TL;DR
- Google Play Store has started rolling out a new “Pause” feature for Play Protect, allowing users to temporarily disable app security scans.
- Unlike the previous “Turn off” option, the new feature automatically reactivates Play Protect the next day, reducing the risk of users forgetting to turn it back on.
- This update should help protect Android users from malware and scams while still allowing them to sideload apps without long-term security risks.
If I’m sideloading apps, it is usually because I want nothing to do with their storefront or nonsense.
I feel like its just the first step in completely removing the off option (like how on Windows you cant turn off Defender, only pause it). Am I being too cynical?
You’re probably right, sadly
I don’t see that as a downside
I think the downside is one of consent. There’s no way to categorically indicate that you don’t want to participate in the play protect program.
While it’s essential for keeping devices safe, it can sometimes interfere with third-party app installations.
That’s… kind of biased language. I can’t keep my device safe without Google playing sysadmin for me?
Maybe don’t install malware?
You are right. Removing play services right now.
That’s what I do. I think Google scanning for malware is one of the least invasive parts of modern Google Android.
Google’s device, not yours. You don’t own it unless you have sole root privileges.
Which is why I buy devices that allow me to do just that.
Get fucked. I’ll install what I want.
Fuck Google. If I sideload app I known what I’m doing. I never saw anyone getting malware from fdroid especially the official one. I don’t use any Google services. And I never faced any issues
Anyone that’s put an app on Fdroid can attest to the stringency of their testing process. They sandbox and monitor all apps to make sure they aren’t calling out to other services. Their reproducible builds tags are a huge advantage to anyone wanting ground truth about the apps they get from the store. If you have a clean tagged app from them, you can be pretty certain it’s clean.
