Sideloading, or installing Android apps outside of the Google Play Store, has long been a practice tolerated, though discouraged, by Google. At its I/O conference in May, Google introduced new developer tools that allow you to view “fix” dialogs during sideloading, inviting users to download the app from the Play Store instead of proceeding with manual installation. A bit as done for Wear OS in its time.
Sideloading on Android: The New Challenge of the Play Integrity API
Users who have attempted to install apps like Tesco's, BeyBlade X and ChatGPT have encountered these messages that cannot be ignored (as he points out Android Authority). Even a gamer on an Android gaming device encountered a similar warning while trying to install “Diablo Immortal” three months ago.
Google's Play Integrity API is the mechanism by which apps have already blocked access on modified smartphones from the stock operating system with all Google Play integrations intact. Recently, a popular two-factor authentication app has blocked access on rooted phones, including the security-oriented GrapheneOS operating system.
Apps can call the Play Integrity API and receive a “integrity verdict“, which indicates whether the phone has a trusted software environment, whether Google Play Protect is enabled, and whether it passes other software checks. Graphene has questioned the veracity of Google’s SafetyNet and Integrity API attestation systems, recommending Android’s standard hardware attestation instead.
According to developer Rahman, apps don't necessarily have to take an “all or nothing” approach to integrity checking. Instead of blocking installation entirely, they could call the API only during sensitive actions, issuing a warning at that time. However, not having a connection to the Play Store can also deprive developers of metrics, allow installation on incompatible devices (and the resulting bad reviews), and of course, open the door to piracy of paid apps.
Last year, Google introduced the Anti-malware scan for sideloaded apps upon installation. Google and Apple have opposed legislation that would expand sideloading rights for smartphone owners, citing security and reliability concerns.
In short, the future seems to be painted like this: if you want pirated apps, or even free ones, it will no longer be possible to have them.
