Credit: Tushar Mehta / Android Authority
Google is set to change, if not completely eradicate, Android sideloading as we know it. The change comes into effect as early as September this year, and could make sideloading more drawn-out and cumbersome.
While Google has ensured sideloading isn’t going away, it plans to introduce a “high-friction” flow for installing apps from unverified developers. This is certain to unsettle many people, especially power users. But for the broader Android user base, it could be a lifesaver, especially with APK-based attacks on the rise.