Google to Make Sideloading Android Apps a High-Friction Process

Google is trying to keep Android users safer by making the sideloading app flow more difficult and convoluted, according to new reports.

One of the features that Android prides itself on is the ability to install apps from outside the store. Manually installing apps sounds like a simple feature, but in reality, it's also one of the main reasons why the platform is targeted by criminals.

Social engineering attacks often focus on this direct attack vector: convince the victim that it's a good idea to manually install an app. At the very least, it's just an annoying app that serves full-screen ads. At the very worst, the victim installs a banking trojan that takes control of the device and drains the accounts.

Reducing malware threats by making it annoying

One way to make it more difficult for users to get infected is to make the actual procedure for sideloading apps more complicated, or at least to force users to jump through multiple hoops that also inform them of potential dangers.

Last year, Google announced new developer verification requirements and a new flow that would make it clear to users that installing apps from unverified developers is a major risk.

"Based on this feedback and our ongoing conversations with the community, we are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn't verified," explained Google.

"We are designing this flow specifically to resist coercion, ensuring that users aren't tricked into bypassing these safety checks while under pressure from a scammer," said the company at the end of 2025.

Following reports about the upcoming restrictions Android users will face when sideloading apps, Google's Matthew Forsythe made a few comments on X that clarified the situation a little bit.

"It's not a sideloading restriction, but an 'Accountability Layer'. 🛡️ Advanced users will be able to 'Install without verifying,' but expect a high-friction flow designed to help users understand the risks," he explained.

The phone is really dangerous, and people agree

Bitdefender's 2025 Consumer Cybersecurity Survey unveiled a number of very interesting trends, while at the same time cementing something everyone had intuitively known for some time. The phone has slowly become of great importance in people's lives, but they don't necessarily understand it.

When asked "which device, if any, do you most commonly use to conduct transactions (pay bills, shop online, submit personal data, etc)?" the answer was overwhelmingly the phone.

Attackers know this all too well, which is why there's an abundance of malicious campaigns active at any given time, and why having a dedicated security solution such as Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android is the perfect choice.

Download the complimentary Bitdefender 2025 Consumer Cybersecurity Survey for a comprehensive look at today's threat landscape.