this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2025
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TL;DR

  • Google Play Store has started rolling out a new β€œPause” feature for Play Protect, allowing users to temporarily disable app security scans.
  • Unlike the previous β€œTurn 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.
top 34 comments
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[–] ryan_e3p@lemmy.world 43 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If I'm sideloading apps, it is usually because I want nothing to do with their storefront or nonsense.

[–] zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yeah I straight up don't understand this. People install non play store apps THROUGH the app store?

[–] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago

It's odd, really. I always check for an F-Droid entry or other means of installation before going to the play store.

[–] notanapple@lemm.ee 37 points 1 week ago (3 children)

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?

No, it's been coming

[–] HeavyRaptor@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 week ago

You're probably right, sadly

[–] Zak@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago (2 children)

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?

[–] skribe@aussie.zone 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Google's device, not yours. You don't own it unless you have sole root privileges.

[–] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 week ago

Which is why I buy devices that allow me to do just that.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip -3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Maybe don't install malware?

[–] khorovodoved@lemm.ee 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You are right. Removing play services right now.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 0 points 1 week ago

That's what I do. I think Google scanning for malware is one of the least invasive parts of modern Google Android.

[–] Uri@infosec.pub 18 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago

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.

[–] u_u@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I hate this post so much, I unconsciously downvoted it (Already undo the downvote tho)

[–] shaggyb@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago

Get fucked. I'll install what I want.

[–] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

People turn off Play Protect?

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I have it on. And I'm on Grapheneos and side load a bunch of shit from Grapheneos store, F-Droid, Aurora store, and apks. No issues.

[–] noxypaws@pawb.social 2 points 1 week ago

Do you do anything with the Play store to prevent it from tracking you? Throwaway account, only grant it network permission when on a VPN, that sorta stuff?

[–] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 1 points 1 week ago
[–] juli@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

So is "Turn off" going away?

[–] zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com 2 points 1 week ago

The real question and likely intent

[–] Auli 7 points 1 week ago

Not sure the problem been side loading for years and never turned this off and haven't had any issues.

[–] stepan@lemmy.cafe 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I have it turned off. Is it bad?

[–] CaptainBasculin@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago

As long as you know what you're installing, not bad.

[–] limerod@reddthat.com 1 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I would recommend not to. I have observed people somtimes get their phones infected and play protect warns about that. You won't know if that were to happen to you.

[–] stepan@lemmy.cafe 2 points 6 days ago

In fact, I do download apks from various sources. I just had to dismiss some false positives (ReVanced IIRC) so I decided it's useless because if it's not false positive I would probably still dismiss it, especially if told to do so by (malicious) devs.

[–] Uri@infosec.pub 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Well you can stay safe without it if you don't download apks from random places.

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Then why would you need to turn it off at all?

because from time to time it raises a false alarm about known good apps like kde connect

[–] Uri@infosec.pub 3 points 1 week ago

The whole playstore and play service thing is privacy nightmare.

[–] limerod@reddthat.com 0 points 1 week ago

That's a good advice. But, people are gullible. Having an extra defence which you (hopefully) won't need is better than having none and ultimately needing one.