Is it possible to allow sideloading and keep users safe?

(shkspr.mobi)

205 points ColinWright | 1 comments | 30 Aug 25 12:03 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source

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m463 ◴[31 Aug 25 05:39 UTC] No.45080628[source]▶

"sideloading" connotates something that is negative.

On systems before apple's locked-down iphone, it was just called "installing".

The PC revolution started with people just inserting their software into the comptuer and running it. You didn't have to ask the computer manufacturer or the OS vendor permission to do it.

And note that apple doesn't allow you to protect yourself. You cannot install a firewall and block arbitrary software on your phone. For example, you can not block apple telemetry.

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bluesign ◴[31 Aug 25 08:21 UTC] No.45081451[source]▶

>>45080628 #

If you consider developer has the right to determine who runs their software, it is actually.

My last 10 apk installs:

- 9 apps not available in the local store - 1 app I changed some setting in the manifest

For less technical people it will also include some shady apk's for example promising free La Liga match broadcast but then scraping everything from phone.

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1. tdeck ◴[31 Aug 25 09:52 UTC] No.45081901[source]▶

>>45081451 #

I've found myself having to sideload more apps in Android lately, simply because they didn't update and were removed by Google from the Play Store. Great apps that worked for years and did what I needed them to do are now no longer good enough because the developer didn't choose to stay on a ridiculous treadmill.

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