Through an updated Google API, Android app developers can now effectively block sideloading and force downloads from the Play Store.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19650358

Through an updated Google API, Android app developers can now effectively block sideloading and force downloads from the Play Store.

  • NutinButNet@hilariouschaos.comEnglish
    25·
    3 months ago

    I guess the next step in piracy is to change the apk enough that it doesn’t get recognized correctly, if that’s possible? Though then everyone will have to worry about malware-ridden apps.

    I think this is horrible, aside from piracy, because you may want or need to stay on an older version of an app. I have had to for devices at work that require a specific version or just an easy way to manage the device and ensure devices only got updates we approved through our MDM.

    • lud@lemm.eeEnglish
      4·
      3 months ago

      The app checks if the current user is licenced so you would have to crack the DRM to bypass it. It’s not like the DRM is simply a filehash and all you have to do to avoid it is to change a byte or two.

  • essteeyou@lemmy.worldEnglish
    16·
    3 months ago

    Google made this available so they can encourage developers to use it and say “we’re not a monopoly, the developers are adding the check” and see how long they can get away with it.

  • ohellidk@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    14·
    3 months ago

    I wonder if the latest “play integrity fix” module could solve that problem. Its already allowing me to use bank apps on my rooted phone, so I assume it would let me sideload too if the integrity was “fixed”. Google is making more problems with paid solutions.

  • spiderman@ani.socialEnglish
    10·
    3 months ago

    This is going to be a pain in the ass for sometime. Almost all the apps that has sell something through google play will use that API now.