As much as I love using Android, there’s no denying that there’s always the risk of malware. Especially if you tend to sideload APKs of apps and bypass the security measures imposed by Google Play. Android 14 won’t stop this process, but it might make it a little less risky.
According to 9to5Google (opens in a new tab), Android 14 will block the installation of apps designed for “outdated” versions of Android. It’s a policy already in place on Google Play that requires newly listed apps to target Android 12 or later, but it may soon also affect page loading.
A newly discovered code change (opens in a new tab) suggests that Android 14 will make API requirements stricter than before – specifically to prevent users from installing outdated apps. This would stop sideloading outdated APK files while also blocking installation from app stores. Because it’s not Apple, and users can’t just access Google Play.
It’s worth noting that the install block isn’t necessarily as strict as Google Play itself. It is believed that the block will initially apply to “especially old versions of Android” and then slowly expand to Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) – which was first released in 2015.
Why Android 6? Well, this was the first version of Android that asked users to confirm app permissions instead of giving apps free reign. This makes it somewhat difficult for hackers and other threat actors to access sensitive areas of the phone. It’s not impossible, but it’s more difficult and makes your device a little more secure in the process.
However, 9to5Google notes that device manufacturers can still decide their own thresholds for deprecated apps, or whether they want to enable the feature at all. So it is likely that only Google Pixels will close the hard Android 6 barrier.
A new shell flag is also said to be available to allow people to install outdated apps if they need to. But the extra steps and knowledge required mean that average users probably won’t bother with it. That said, it doesn’t mean you’ll be completely stripped of your hilariously outdated apps if you really need to have them.
While the problem of malware on phones will never completely disappear, making the Android ecosystem more secure can only be a good thing. Especially if it means it’s much harder to install potentially dangerous software without you noticing.
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