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Could this be an anti-piracy attempt? (arstechnica.com)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/42024710

Android apps are blocking sideloading and forcing Google Play versions instead

You might sideload an Android app, or manually install its APK package, if you're using a custom version of Android that doesn't include Google's Play Store. Alternately, the app might be experimental, under development, or perhaps no longer maintained and offered by its developer. Until now, the existence of sideload-ready APKs on the web was something that seemed to be tolerated, if warned against, by Google.

This quiet standstill is being shaken up by a new feature in Google's Play Integrity API. As reported by Android Authority, developer tools to push "remediation" dialogs during sideloading debuted at Google's I/O conference in May, have begun showing up on users' phones. Sideloaders of apps from the British shop Tesco, fandom app BeyBlade X, and ChatGPT have reported "Get this app from Play" prompts, which cannot be worked around. An Android gaming handheld user encountered a similarly worded prompt from Diablo Immortal on their device three months ago.

Google's Play Integrity API is how apps have previously blocked access when loaded onto phones that are in some way modified from a stock OS with all Google Play integrations intact. Recently, a popular two-factor authentication app blocked access on rooted phones, including the security-minded GrapheneOS. Apps can call the Play Integrity API and get back an "integrity verdict," relaying if the phone has a "trustworthy" software environment, has Google Play Protect enabled, and passes other software checks.

Graphene has questioned the veracity of Google's Integrity API and SafetyNet Attestation systems, recommending instead standard Android hardware attestation. Rahman notes that apps do not have to take an all-or-nothing approach to integrity checking. Rather than block installation entirely, apps could call on the API only during sensitive actions, issuing a warning there. But not having a Play Store connection can also deprive developers of metrics, allow for installation on incompatible devices (and resulting bad reviews), and, of course, open the door to paid app piracy.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

What if the apps are installed via adb using

pm install -i "com.android.vending" /sdcard/yourapp.apk

For the system then the app has been installed from the play store

Or it checks online to see if the current user has a (free?) license?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

trying to execute that requires the caller (so user shell from using adb most likely) to have the same uid as Google Play which should never be the case

afair

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

I think you can actually test it with space.linuxct.hydra

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I think calling it an anti-piracy measure is being too generous to Google. This is their slimy way to try to get around the measures the EU is enforcing and just to keep their control in general. Every update Google makes to Android brings it further from what I liked about it when it was new.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This is a flag set by the app developer, it's not enforced by google

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago

I am aware, but Google is the one making this available and it 100% benefits them for developers to use it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

"to continue using __app__ (unreviewed)" does not fill me with confidence

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

So are the apps blocked even when you are not using the play services?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago (5 children)

If this stops revanced from working it will be my push to install grapheneos. I don't need the wallet function really.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

The mount method using root will still work since it writes over the app rather than installing it as an update, will still seem like it was installed from play, same way it still thinks it's google signed in that state.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

i believe it's opt in by the app developers so unless the revanced developers specifically opt in to it, there's nothing to worry about

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Revanced is a patched version of the YouTube app, so Google could block installations of YouTube outside Google Play. I have no idea how this doesn't violate antitrust laws, Google is a monopolistic piece of shit and seriously needs to be broken up and fined into oblivion.