Based on reporting by Forbes.
Google has revealed plans for a significant Android update that could change how millions of users install apps outside the Google Play Store. The update focuses on sideloading — a long-standing Android feature — and introduces new verification steps and warning screens aimed at reducing malware and unsafe apps.
According to early previews, developers may need additional verification before their apps can be installed via sideloading. While Google says the change is designed to improve security, critics warn that the new warnings may be too easy for users to bypass, raising questions about how effective the protection will be in practice.
The move highlights the ongoing tension between Android’s flexibility and user safety. Unlike Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem, Android has traditionally allowed greater freedom — but that freedom has also made it a frequent target for malicious apps and scams.
Google has not yet confirmed when the changes will roll out broadly, but the update could affect millions of users worldwide once it becomes part of a stable Android release.
Source: Forbes — Zak Doffman