On iOS (at the moment), it is impossible to install an application if it is not available on the official store, the App Store. But on Android, when an application is not on the Play Store, it is always possible to install it on the smartphone by installing an .apk file, or by using a third-party application store, such as that of ‘Amazon. Google is not about to shut down its operating system. However, the firm may well impose some restrictions and put an end to the total freedom enjoyed by Android users when it comes to installing applications.
According to an article published by 9to5Google, these new restrictions could be imposed on the next version of the OS, Android 14. In essence, Google would like to block the installation of .apk files of outdated apps that pose a security risk to users user data. The site indicates that it has discovered a change in the Android code corresponding to these new restrictions.
Imposing new safety standards
Every year, when Google releases a new version of Android, it offers new security features. However, these measures are not necessarily adopted by applications, as they may target older versions of the operating system. And to remedy this, Google has already cleaned up its Play Store, blocking apps targeting an older version of Android.
“The reason behind this is simple. Users with the latest devices or those completely caught up in Android updates expect to realize the full potential of all the privacy and security protections Android has to offer”, Google said in the announcement of this measure. However, the current block only affects the official Play Store. And if a person wants to install an application blocked by this store because it is too old, they can always look for this app on a third-party store, or by looking for the corresponding .apk file. But if the changes mentioned by 9to5Google are applied, Android would block these outdated apps, even if the user bypasses the Play Store using an .apk file.
A future subject of controversy?
In essence, the idea would be to reduce the freedom currently enjoyed by Android users, in return for better security. Also, if a user really wants to install an outdated app, they will still have an option. But this would require the use of a “flag”, which is a more complex manipulation.
And of course, while waiting for the official presentation of Android 14, this information is still to be considered with caution. The good news is that Google should soon launch the first preview version (a test version for developers) of Android 14. The new version will not be available to the general public until the second half of 2022. But Google generally launches the test versions several months in advance. For example, in 2022, testing of Android 13 started as early as February, which gave us, very early on, a glimpse of the new operating system.
