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Charlie

@apps To be fair, actual malware will probably throw up that same warning. So I'm super glad they de-emphasize the "install anyways" button. I like being able to install whatever I want, but I don't want my grandma to discover an install button and accidentally install actual malware.

But it is irritating that F-Droid trips that warning. Are the "privacy protections" something that could be implemented, or is that Google speak for "user data collection" or something gross?

15 Jun 2023 at 22:16 | Wall-to-wall | Open on toot.cafe
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Boozy McTypo

@Charlie @apps Riddle me this: If it's actual malware, why wouldn't Google just remove it from the Play store instead of throwing up a Play Protect warning? They run both pieces.

16 Jun 2023 at 13:35 | Open on mastodon.online
Charlie

@m3lang3 @apps
They probably do. FDroid isn't available on the play store, so this is not a great example. But if an app on the Play Store tripped the warning, it would look really bad for Google if they show this warning because it says "we know this software might be dangerous and we're hosting it anyways."

Malware exists on the Play Store, but either Google turns a blind eye (too risky. It'd be _really_ bad if someone proves it), or the devs engineer the malware to dodge the safety tests.

@m3lang3 @apps
They probably do. FDroid isn't available on the play store, so this is not a great example. But if an app on the Play Store tripped the warning, it would look really bad for Google if they show this warning because it says "we know this software might be dangerous and we're hosting it anyways."

16 Jun 2023 at 14:19 | Open on toot.cafe
Charlie

@m3lang3 @apps this warning is mostly in place for the Email scammers that say "You need an updated version of your banking app. Use this link." And then they give the victim an APK that trips the play protect warning.

It makes this kind of scam way more difficult to pull off since not only does the victim need to enable installing apps from the web, they also need to convince the victim to ignore the big "THIS APP IS UNSAFE" warning.

16 Jun 2023 at 14:24 | Open on toot.cafe
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