Look for apps outside of Google Play is dangerous, as is well known among users of Android. This phenomenon, however, remains quite common.
The one raising the alarm, underlining once again how dangerous it is not to rely on the official platform, is none other than the head of Google Sundar Pichaiwho has openly expressed himself in this sense.
By its very nature, Android is a much more open operating system than Apple. This is an advantage in terms of the potential of the apps but, on the other hand, it also leaves gaps in the software sector that can be exploited by cybercriminals.
On the occasion of the recent court hearing, for a dispute between Google and Epic Games, Pichai once again wanted to underline this concept. In this regard, the head of the Mountain View giant has hinted that in the future there may be more limiting conditions for freedom of action of the user. Pichai himself has hinted at his intention to add some form of additional protectionso that Android remains a safe environment.
Epic Games against Google Play: between security and freedom of action for developers
The cause just cited is somehow connected to the topic discussed. Epic Games sued Google in 2020 over the 30% commission that the giant demands from transactions made in the store and on all in-app purchases.
Epic Games claims that Google’s “digital storefront”, pre-installed on every Android device with access to services such as YouTube, Gmail e Google Maps, constitutes a real monopoly. The developer of Fortnite expects Google to make third-party app stores more accessible, helping to make Android more welcoming to developers.
On the other side of the fence, Google is leveraging the security issue, also thanks to the countless cases of file APK and external stores that have become protagonists of various types of cyber attacks. Certainly, the situation appears rather thorny, also because the safety of users is at stake.