You might sideload an Android app, or manually install its APK package, if you’re using a custom version of Android that doesn’t include Google’s Play Store. Alternately, the app might be experimental, under development, or perhaps no longer maintained and offered by its developer. Until now, the existence of sideload-ready APKs on the web was something that seemed to be tolerated, if warned against, by Google.

This quiet standstill is being shaken up by a new feature in Google’s Play Integrity API. As reported by Android Authority, developer tools to push “remediation” dialogs during sideloading debuted at Google’s I/O conference in May, have begun showing up on users’ phones. Sideloaders of apps from the British shop Tesco, fandom app BeyBlade X, and ChatGPT have reported “Get this app from Play” prompts, which cannot be worked around. An Android gaming handheld user encountered a similarly worded prompt from Diablo Immortal on their device three months ago.

Google’s Play Integrity API is how apps have previously blocked access when loaded onto phones that are in some way modified from a stock OS with all Google Play integrations intact. Recently, a popular two-factor authentication app blocked access on rooted phones, including the security-minded GrapheneOS. Apps can call the Play Integrity API and get back an “integrity verdict,” relaying if the phone has a “trustworthy” software environment, has Google Play Protect enabled, and passes other software checks.

Graphene has questioned the veracity of Google’s Integrity API and SafetyNet Attestation systems, recommending instead standard Android hardware attestation. Rahman notes that apps do not have to take an all-or-nothing approach to integrity checking. Rather than block installation entirely, apps could call on the API only during sensitive actions, issuing a warning there. But not having a Play Store connection can also deprive developers of metrics, allow for installation on incompatible devices (and resulting bad reviews), and, of course, open the door to paid app piracy.

  • @hypertown@lemmy.world
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    146 months ago

    Good that most apps I use now are open source but for those few that I still get from Aurora Store it might be a death sentence but perhaps this API could be spoofed?

  • FireWire400
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    306 months ago

    They’re still pissed that people won’t put up with their shitty YouTube app and use Revanced instead, eh?

    • @ngwoo@lemmy.world
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      136 months ago

      That’s not on Google Play so it doesn’t affect it. I honestly don’t know what the point of this is.

      • FireWire400
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        26 months ago

        Oh I see, so it only affects modded apks… They probably want to crack down on all those slightly-shady “spotify premium free”-apks.

        • @Wispy2891@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          No, it only affects vanilla apks where the dev implemented the check. For some reason the dev might forbid to run the app to users that side loaded the app instead of getting it from play store

          Patched/modded apks are unaffected because the check is patched out

        • @LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          6 months ago

          That seems likely. The question comes down to where the line should be drawn. Allow the apps the be installed and then when the data is eventually reported/found by the app owners to have them file law suits against those who are “stealing” from them, or to not allow the cracked application to be loaded in the first place, which is easily disguised as a security protocol because if an app has code in it that is not originally supposed to be there, it is very possibly a form of malware, which then can hurt the users in the long run or short run if it actually acts malicious and starts doing shit like old school viruses did on PC.

          People want to say we own the device so we should be able to do whatever we want, but blatantly allowing people to install cracked apps with keyloggers onto their phones unintentionally will get them sued, and ultimately hurt how many people stay using their products.

          Imagine every user and password with the site listed was suddenly just accessible by everyone. It would be a hellscape of credit card companies trying to stop accounts because you order 18 pizzas off the dominos app in Georgia, and another 13 sandwiches in the burger king app at the same time in Jersey.

          We need to have the freedom to load apps we trust, but if you look at the standard user base, that’s who they have to make the phones for.

          Could do something like make the users agree to terms by taking the phone into developer mode that makes them non responsible somehow? Might not hold up in court when they get sued though. “All the photos I took on my phone got shared online”

          • TFO Winder
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            26 months ago

            I think things are fine the way they are, we don’t need to interfere, unless for profits ofcourse.

          • @ShepherdPie@midwest.social
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            56 months ago

            People want to say we own the device so we should be able to do whatever we want, but blatantly allowing people to install cracked apps with keyloggers onto their phones unintentionally will get them sued, and ultimately hurt how many people stay using their products.

            Imagine every user and password with the site listed was suddenly just accessible by everyone. It would be a hellscape of credit card companies trying to stop accounts because you order 18 pizzas off the dominos app in Georgia, and another 13 sandwiches in the burger king app at the same time in Jersey.

            We need to have the freedom to load apps we trust, but if you look at the standard user base, that’s who they have to make the phones for.

            It has been 16 years since Android came on the scene. Why do you think that these things are going to become such a big issue now in 2024 and beyond?

  • @Snapz@lemmy.world
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    376 months ago

    Was always inching closer, but looks like android has fully outstayed its welcome. The revolving door of executives hit its last person with any integrity on the ass on their way out the door.

  • @cm0002@lemmy.world
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    206 months ago

    which cannot be worked around.

    Well, at least not without root lol

    Root detecting apps to Side loading detecting apps:

    First time?

    • @JustARaccoon@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      “root access is used to bypass security measures!!! We will make it harder to root your phones to keep your data safe” – Google

    • @ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org
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      6 months ago

      I installed FakeStore and set the app’s relevant /data/system/packages.xml properties from Aurora Store to FakeStore (installer="com.android.vending" packageSource="0" installInitiator="com.android.vending", the same as Google Play Store) and rebooted, which was enough to fool the public transport app I’m using. Is this the workaround you’re talking about, or does it require MicroG too?

      • @cm0002@lemmy.world
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        46 months ago

        Yea that sounds about right, really hiding root is straight up magic as is (even though it’s a cat and mouse game lol) and achieving that is 98% of the hard work of hiding the fact an app has been sideloaded. Short of a complete overhaul from Google where they actually try that is.

        Which, if I’m being honest, doesn’t seem like they are. It seems like a rather simple system all things considered. There’s no Playstore specific keys or signatures or file checks or hashs as far as I can tell. Its just a flag and checking if Playstore exists on the device at all

  • @Nikls94@lemmy.world
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    16 months ago

    This explains why I couldn’t install retroarch on the GalaxyS24 Ultra of a friend via apk or google play store. Would not work, but somehow the Galaxy store version worked….

  • Riley
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    2826 months ago

    If the Play Store becomes required like that then Android’s already-shaky status as an open source base platform is going to go out the window. I’m glad there are non-Google distros of Android but there really needs to be more of a push to make a completely FOSS phone platform.

    • @whats_all_this_then@lemmy.world
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      236 months ago

      The more I think about it, this may finally convince me to…shudders…switch to an iPhone. I’ve always stayed on Android because despite the recent Google bullshit, it still for the most part lets me do whatever. Side-loading apks is a huge part of that.

      If it’s turning into a shittier iOS clone, what’s the point?

      • @Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
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        186 months ago

        Don’t do IOS, it’s such a pain. It took us 2 days to figure out how to play an audio book file that I was able to download an F-droid app for and play in like 3 minutes.

        • @whats_all_this_then@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Yup that sounds about right for iOS.

          Meant more that if Android ends up in the same boat (and by the looks of it, that’s exactly what Google and Samsung want), then iOS starts to look viable because the situation becomes: all the same bullshit but iOS is polished to a shine.

          Don’t plan on switching phones until my less than year old Note 9 kicks the bucket 😅

    • @FangedWyvern42@lemmy.world
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      96 months ago

      There are Linux mobile operating systems like PostmarketOS, but they are too early in development to be used by most people.

    • @where_am_i@sh.itjust.works
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      16 months ago

      If someone would be buying those, someone would be selling. You have all the opportunity to fork current android, put it on a different platform, make sure all the drivers are open source instead of blobs, and sell it.

      I’d really want to buy one. But I’ll only do that after you somehow make sure the 3-5 major messaging apps, 2-3 major browsers, and a really good maps app are available.

      So, basically, it’s a 100 mil endeavor for an MVP really. So, I think, the chances of someone actually pulling it off are pretty slim.

    • @IllNess@infosec.pub
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      676 months ago

      There are Linux phones available. I,m going to guess popularity of those devices to increase soon.

      • Vik
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        386 months ago

        As much as I want that to be the case, I don’t think full mobile gnu+Linux is really ready to use daily?

        I haven’t exactly been keeping up with things, mind you

        • @timbuck2themoon@sh.itjust.works
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          116 months ago

          I sub to a few mobile Linux feeds and I want but don’t at all think mobile Linux is ready, even for tech devotees. Too battery hungry, not enough ease of use, missing functions, etc. And that’s not including lack of apps.

          Sailfish gets closest so far I think. But yes, not ready. Ubuntu touch last time I tried is fine but still a bit out of sorts.

        • @IllNess@infosec.pub
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          46 months ago

          Yes. I think a huge issue is Linux doesn’t handle other app activities like how Android’s Intent or Broadcast does.

        • @kspatlas@lemm.ee
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          26 months ago

          Just a note, one of if not the most popular mobile Linux distro is PostmarketOS, which is not GNU (it’s based on Alpine)

          • Vik
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            16 months ago

            Good to know, that’s not the one I had in mind, however.

            For whatever reason I thought PMOS was based on Manjaro. Could be something as silly as associating one green logo with another.

      • Dizzy Devil Ducky
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        186 months ago

        Sadly the only people who would switch over to an actual Linux phone would be the people like the stereotypical Linux using Lemmy user. The average android user would just continue on like nothing happened because they’re not tech literate enough to know what’s going on or why they should care.

      • Snot Flickerman
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        566 months ago

        That was the hope with Android, too.

        The problem is that as the OS is “free” that means it costs less functionally for the device manufacturer to get an OS on the device, so now they can pour more money into bloatware.

        Android was supposed to stop bloatware but all it did was enable it.

        Even without a forced “store” Linux is prey to the same issue of piecemeal support from various vendors all with in-house solutions that all stink.

        • @doctortran@lemm.ee
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          6 months ago

          At this point, even that would be preferable.

          Your right, any open platform will be bastardized eventually, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a need for “resets”.

          There is no perfect platform for escaping it, because the market forces will always adapt and assimilate. The only true escape is to keep moving.

          That’s why it’s important for users to be hermit crabs, and move to the next thing, no matter how janky, because they will at least be able to influence it positively and have a relatively open platform for a number of years. Then the cycle repeats.

          If propping up Linux phones will get us the open platform we need, even if only temporarily, we should do it.

          The issue I think is that the current trends in all consumer software are increasingly user hostile, and the major platforms are creating ecosystems to support this. It’s become the norm now to be able to directly control the usage of the software on consumer devices. Apple has normalized this, Google and Microsoft followed.

          At what point will developers refuse to even create software for a system that doesn’t allow them that control?

          Look at how many developers out there absolutely jerk themselves raw at the idea they should be able to compel users to update to continue using their software. Look at how many believe the modern security culture fallacy that handcuffing users and throwing away the key is the only way to protect them.

          It’s a development culture issue. Respecting user control of their own device is no longer in vogue.

      • @MrLLM@ani.social
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        216 months ago

        I,m going to guess popularity of those devices to increase soon.

        I don’t want to be pessimistic about it, however I think it’s gonna be like Windows: enshittification will happen, but inconvenience is “too small” for people that they’ll rather check for a workaround than leave the platform.

        My guess is that we need something more appealing like the Steam Deck to make people take the step.

        • @vividspecter@lemm.ee
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          96 months ago

          I’d be happy with 2010 era desktop Linux level of support. It doesn’t need to get everybody to switch, just needs to be good enough for my needs.

        • @IllNess@infosec.pub
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          166 months ago

          My guess is that we need something more appealing like the Steam Deck to make people take the step.

          Hear me out! The Steam Phone®!

          • @5714@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            146 months ago

            Steam’s UI is tolerable, but inconsistent. In a SteamDeck, OK, but in a phone? Idk.

            I get that this isn’t meant that seriously.

      • @helenslunch@feddit.nl
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        136 months ago

        Linux isn’t even popular on desktop. No way a mobile version becomes popular without some massive shifts in Linux ideology and culture.

      • @namingthingsiseasy@programming.dev
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        But part of the appeal of Linux is the fact that you can repurpose existing computers running other OSes to run Linux instead. This is a great way to lower the barrier to entry for Linux, because it’s easy to test it on a Live USB or a dual boot. It’s much harder to do this on phones because they have locked bootloaders.

        Another problem is that phones are not productivity devices - they’re consumption devices. Maybe this is just my personal bias, but I don’t think people will be as passionate about liberating their phones because they’re inherently less useful than computers. Convenient, yes, but useful? Not as much.

        That said, I would love to be proven wrong. I would definitely consider a Linux phone if they become more popular/useful, but I can’t really justify spending hundreds of euros/dollars on something for which I don’t see any particular use.

      • TXL
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        There aren’t, really. There are a few antiques and half baked things.

        A big problem is that these days, unless you’re the size of Apple or Samsung, it’s impossible to get a reasonable hardware soc and modem other than one which only runs a soon obsolete blob laden android which is going to be EOL before you’ve even finished your design.

        The hardware is not there. The firmware/hw data/platform isn’t there even to begin OS work with. And there’s a global shipping, regulation and mobile operator hell waiting on the other side. And a product lifecycle that’s only a few years long.

        Yes, I’ve worked for phone manufacturers.

    • @sentientity@lemm.ee
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      66 months ago

      I genuinely don’t even know where to buy an affordable device that is free from this kind of control. Some company always has outsized control (and in some cases arguably surveillance) over anything you can find on the market. It sucks so bad.

  • subignition
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    516 months ago

    It’s not like dedicated people aren’t going to be able to just patch out the calls to this API from the apps themselves…

    This feels like yet another attempt at DRM that is doing more harm than help.

    • @Azzu@lemm.ee
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      96 months ago

      Indeed, I already bypass SafetyNet and Play integrity with some kind of xposed module, I don’t expect this to change.

      • @mrvictory1@lemmy.world
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        26 months ago

        Can you tell me which modules you use? I am trying to pass SafetyNet on Waydroid but can’t pass even basic integrity.

        • @whats_all_this_then@lemmy.world
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          36 months ago

          I’ve used Magisk with the safetynet module + hiding root from apps with like a 95% success rate. Quick search for “magisk safetynet” and look at the xdadevelopers threads

        • @Azzu@lemm.ee
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          36 months ago

          idk where I got it from, but it’s called “Universal SafetyNet Fix” by kdrag0n

          • @mrvictory1@lemmy.world
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            Did you just install the module and passed safetynet or did you have to use custom fingerprint? Also are you on custom or stock rom?

    • @vin@lemmynsfw.com
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      16 months ago

      Why would that be possible? Wouldn’t the developer have their server rejected any calls from “unsigned” apps?

      • subignition
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        26 months ago

        If functionality exists in the client app, there’s nothing to be done to stop someone from bypassing checks.

        Looking into it further this looks like it’s an API between the backend of a service and Google though. That would be difficult to defeat, but you could probably spoof the identity of the requesting device with enough effort

      • @doctortran@lemm.ee
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        Possibly, but many apps don’t actually need to phone home to function.

        Of course that doesn’t stop developers arbitrarily requiring it.

  • @T156@lemmy.world
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    1326 months ago

    What is a “trustworthy software environment”?

    Does that mean that it will get mad and fail you for having Developer options enabled? Having F-Droid installed? Having it plugged into a computer?

    • @FierySpectre@lemmy.world
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      286 months ago

      According to the dumbfucks making the government application of Belgium (to read official communication) trustworthy means having developer mode disabled.

    • @whats_all_this_then@lemmy.world
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      656 months ago

      There’s a bank here that refuses to let you log into their app if you have developer options enabled. Their service was getting much better until that point, but I dropped them completely after that.

      I use developer options to get better screen density on my large ass screen, and to you know…develop apps 🤷‍♂️

      FUCK THESE ASSHOLES WHO THINK THEY CAN TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN NOT DO WITH MY PHONE

      • @doctortran@lemm.ee
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        136 months ago

        People seriously need to start pushing back on the word “secure” being used as a blanket excuse for every restriction.

        It feels like every time that word is used, no one is willing to call out the fact that user freedom is equally as important and it’s a lazy, disrespectful developer who won’t take that into account by finding ways to maintain both.