A new version of Necro malware, a form of malware that first emerged in 2019, has been found to have been installed on at least 11 million devices through apps that were distributed through the Google Play store.

Do not grant permissions to an app that it should not need: torches and star-gazing apps don’t need access to your contacts and phone. And never grant accessibility permissions that facilitate device control unless you have a need. Once a month, scan through your phone and delete a few of the apps you no longer need or haven’t used in a long time.

Google appears to be rolling out a fresh API that lets Android developers insist that their apps can only be downloaded from the Google Play Store, and if you sideload an app, it

Android 15 places new restrictions on what permissions sideloaded apps can be easily granted. Here's what you need to know.

Google aims to align with the EUs DMA by ensuring third-party app stores are as functional and secure as the Play Store. The changes encourage users to use trusted app stores rather than downloading APKs from unverified sources.

Back in Android 13, Google introduced a new layer of protection against potentially malicious sideloaded apps by preventing them from accessing features designed for accessibility. However, if the user wanted to,

One of the key features of Android is the freedom to install apps from any source. You can do so via the Play Store, alternative app stores, or APK files. However, Google is providing developers with a new tool to force app downloads from the Play Store.