Google is up to no good again and once again going against its original “Do No Evil” slogan by locking down Android’s openness. The company is making it much harder to install apps not from the Google Play Store, a process often mislabeled as “sideloading.” This term is misleading, as installing apps on Android is no different from installing a program on a Windows or Linux computer from a website. This change is driven by Google’s desire for all developers to be registered, which allows them to track developer data.
Apps Outside of Play Store
This new policy will be a major issue for hobbyist developers and those who create free and open-source software (FOSS). To get verified, developers will have to provide their DUNS number and credit card information, a clear attempt at data gathering.
Google Making Up Stats
Google’s stated reason for this change is security, claiming that apps from outside the Play Store have over 50 times more malware. This statistic is highly questionable, as Google provides no sources and is likely based on biased surveys or they’re spying on your phone. If not biased surveys, how else could they get that number without scanning your phone’s files and everything you do if you didn’t download the malicious app from Google Play? Conclusion they’re making the number up or spying on your phone and then finding the malicious software
Google’s Lies.
However, Bitdefender, a reputable security firm, published an article on a single campaign where 331 apps on the Google Play Store itself were downloaded 60 million times. These were malicious apps that bypassed Android 13 security. The fact that Google’s “secure” platform allowed this to happen proves their claim is garbage. If you do the math, Google’s claim of 50 times more malware outside the Play Store would mean over 3 billion malicious downloads from just this one example. This is an impossible number and shows their justification is a lie.
More Confusion
Making matters worse, a reputable website, Android Authority, reports that a new service called Android Developer Verifier will likely be used, rather than Google Play Services, to verify Android devices and developers. This new verification process, set to start in September 2026, will confuse developers, including hobbyists. While an ADB workaround might exist, it’s not a solution for the average user.
Android Is Becoming iPhone
This new system is essentially turning Android into an iPhone. The reason Android has been so popular is its open-source nature, but Google is slowly restricting that freedom. While manufacturers have made it more difficult to install custom Android versions, students and hobbyists have always used Android for app development due to its open nature. Now, even those who want to support FOSS software and use marketplaces like F-Droid will be locked down. This means you won’t fully own your phone.
FOSS, which I’m a fan of, is now being locked down by Google’s new policy, making it difficult to use alternative marketplaces like F-Droid. This will make it harder for users from donating to developers outside of Google Play and supporting the open-source community.
This change turns Android into a phone you don’t fully own, similar to an iPhone. iPhones are expensive “bricks” starting at around $1,000 CAD, and when software updates end, the devices are essentially e-waste. Sure, you can continue using them but they don’t receive security updates which is a risk and you can’t load an alternative OS. This is why I installed GrapheneOS on my Pixel and I dual-boots my computers with Linux, to have freedom and control over my devices that I paid for.
Possible Solution
Finding a solution is difficult because both Apple and Google have issues. Apple is not privacy-friendly, has been caught selling data, and its ecosystem is locked down. Android used to be the alternative, but manufacturers have started locking down bootloaders, making it difficult to install custom operating systems like GrapheneOS.
I believe that Linux devices are the only way out. While they are not yet mainstream and may not be as stable as Android or iOS, they will improve over time. The hardware may seem underwhelming, but our standards are too high. Many people I know buy overpriced devices without using half the hardware capability of their phone’s processor, RAM, etc.
I urge manufacturers like Sony and Samsung to partner with projects like GrapheneOS or Linux to provide users with true ownership. Such partnerships would be incredibly popular, but these companies fail to see the opportunity because they are too focused on following Google’s rules.
Consider alternatives to iPhone and Android, of course I acknowledge the learning curve when using a new device and OS but I’m emphasizing the freedom and control gained. The first time you used Windows, Mac, iOS, and/or Android, you had to learn it and then it becomes second nature to use them, you can do the same with Linux. They ask viewers to like and subscribe to the video to help their channel grow.
The entire reason Android became beloved was its open-source nature, but Google’s control is tightening. This forces users to rely on a system that tracks their data and sells it.
