Google Play Store will protect your apps even outside the store

Google wants to take the security of its applications and all of the rest of the Android ecosystem seriously. To do this, it has already launched its own defense mechanism, which many doubt that it really does any good, called Play Protect. Let's say that Play Protect is Google's own antivirus, which comes pre-installed on Android phones, and which performs an occasional scan for malicious applications. And we say that we really do not know if it is of any use, given the strain that the Google application store sometimes becomes.The advice to be aware of these malicious applications, the same as always. We must take into account the permissions that are required and see if the application really needs it to work.

Google Apps, secure wherever they come from

There are two common ways to install applications on our mobile phone. The most common, from the Google Play Store Android application store itself. Likewise, we can install the utilities by downloading, on the Internet, its installation file, which we know as its APK file. This last way of installing applications can be very economical for users, since they only need someone to pass them the file through terminals, but it can also be somewhat dangerous. Although the APK comes from the Google Play Store they are not equipped with the same security as if they came from it.

What is happening? That this second method of installation is the most used in those countries where data rates have a high cost for their citizens or, simply, the Internet connection is not as good as it should be. In addition, these users usually keep the latest version they install, without updating, putting their terminal and, consequently, their personal data at risk. That is why the Californian Internet giant is going to include a series of security metadata (information collected in the application's programming code) that will convert these applications installed outside the Play Store in equally safe applications.

A closed ecosystem needed for developers

Google could also verify the security of these applications thanks to the metadata even if the terminal is not connected to WiFi or any data network.When we can access a terminal with an Internet connection, these applications installed outside the official store may be added to a user's library to receive relevant updates From this In this way, a circle of users is formed among which they can ensure that the applications are updated and secure, without fear of putting their terminals at risk.

In addition, it is a point in favor for any developer of Android applications, as stated by the brand itself. Thanks to the new inclusion of metadata and offline security, they will have the assurance that Google will always certify that applications will not negatively impact the user.

To be able to carry out this new security method, the installation files of the applications will have a slightly greater weight than what usual.A small price to pay thanks to which users will be more secure when sharing applications offline, and developers have, in this way, new distribution channels and with the same security that, until now, the channel provided. official Google Play.