Google announced a new step to make Android apps safer: starting next year, developers who distribute apps to certified Android phones and tablets, even outside Google Play, will need to verify their legal identity. The change ties every app on certified devices to a named developer account, while keeping Android’s ability to run apps from other stores or direct downloads intact.
What this means for everyday users and small developers is straightforward. If you download an app from a website or a third-party store, the app will now be linked to a developer who has provided a legal name, address, email and phone number. Google says hobbyists and students will have a lighter account option, but many independent creators may choose to register as a business to protect personal privacy. Certified devices are the ones that ship with Google services and pass Google’s compatibility tests; devices that do not include Google Play services may follow different rules.
Google’s stated reason is security. The company reported that apps installed from the open internet are far more likely to contain malware than apps on the Play Store, and it says those risks come mainly from people hiding behind anonymous developer identities. By requiring identity verification, Google intends to make it harder for repeat offenders to publish harmful apps and to make malicious actors easier to track.
The rollout is phased so developers and device makers can prepare. Early access invitations begin in October 2
[…]
Content was cut in order to protect the source.Please visit the source for the rest of the article.
Read the original article: