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Android developer verification: Early access starts

android-developers.googleblog.com

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Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#401

Post by codethief »

Ms-J wrote: post #227
Lammy wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The name “Secure Boot” is such an effective way for them to guide well-meaning but naïve people's thought process to their desired outcome. Microsoft's idea of Security is security from me, not security for me. They use this overloaded language because it's so hard to argue against. It's a thought-terminating cliché. Oh, you don't use ?? You must not care about being secure, huh??? Dear Microsoft: fuck off; I refuse…

Agreed. Also Secure boot is vulnerable to many types of exploits. Having it enabled can be a danger in its self as it can be used to infect the OS that relies on it.

Could you elaborate? This is news to me?

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#402

Post by codethief »

Lammy wrote: post #210
HumanOstrich wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While it's possible to install and use Windows 11 without Secure Boot enabled, it is not a supported configuration by Microsoft and doesn't meet the minimum system requirements. Thus it could negatively affect the ability to get updates and support. > It is already not needed and insecure so should be turned off. You know what's even less secure? Having it off.

The name “Secure Boot” is such an effective way for them to guide well-meaning but naïve people's thought process to their desired outcome. Microsoft's idea of Security is security from me, not security for me. They use this overloaded language because it's so hard to argue against. It's a thought-terminating cliché. Oh, you don't use ?? You must not care about being secure, huh??? Dear Microsoft: fuck off; I refuse…

> Dear Microsoft: fuck off; I refuse to seek your permission-via-signing-key to run my own software on my own computer.

No one is stopping you from installing your own keys, though?

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#403

Post by [deleted] »

hexage1814 wrote: post #363
AnthonyMouse wrote: post #348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They clearly addressed this option in the post, under sufficient social engineering pressure these settings will easily be circumvented. You'd need at least a 24h timeout or similar to mitigate the social pressure. "Under sufficient social engineering pressure" is the thing that proves too much. A 24h timeout can't withstand that either. Nor can the ability for the user to use their phone to send money, or access t…

>By the time you're done the phone is a brick that can't do anything useful. At some point you have to admit that adults are responsible for the choices they make. Absolutely this! It's just nanny state all over again.

[deleted]

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#404

Post by StopDisinfo910 »

pmontra wrote: post #290
svat wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is actually a good point, and something I've been wondering about too. What changed between the 90s and now, that Microsoft didn't get blamed for malware on Windows, but Google/Apple would be blamed now for malware on their devices? It seems that the environment today is different, in the sense that if (widespread) PCs only came into existence now, the PC makers would be considered responsible for harms therefro…

What changed is that Apple made the masses familiar with the concept of installing software only from a store with a vetting process. For short, the walled garden. That was mostly an alien thing in the world of software. All of us grew with the possibility of getting an installer and install it whenever we wanted. There were some form of protections against piracy but nothing else. Once Apple created the walled garde…

> So, to answer your question, Microsoft got blamed for viruses and made fun of but there wasn't a better way in the mainstream. There is one now.

I don't think App Store is a better way.

From my point of view, people keep mistaking the actual progress - generalised sandboxing and reduced API surface - with the major regression - controlled distribution. At the beginning of the App Store, when the sandboxing and APIs were poor, they were frequent security issues.

Apple marketing magic is somehow convincing people that it's their questionable veting which made things secure and not the very real security innovations.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#405

Post by mcherm »

Great! Based on this, I would like to sign up to get early access to Android Developer Console (to distribute apps ONLY outside the Play store). The article explains that they will start sending out invitations to people on the waiting list.

But it does not say (or I can't find it) how to JOIN the waiting list. Does anyone know how?

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#406

Post by hexage1814 »

makeitdouble wrote: post #134
svat wrote: post #7

From the very first announcement of this, Google has hinted that they were doing this under pressure from the governments in a few countries. (I don't remember the URL of the first announcement, but https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/elevating-... is from 2025-August-25 and mentions “These requirements go into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand”.) The “Why verification is important” s…

> the governments of countries where such scams are widespread will hold Google responsible. This argument is FUD at this point. Sovereign governments have ways to make clear what they want: they pass laws, and there needs to be no back deal or veiled threats. If they intend to punish Google for the rampant scams, they'll need a legal framework for that. That's exactly how it went down with the DMA, and how other cou…

> they'll need a legal framework for that

Not really. It should, but Google operate in a bunch of contries without proper rule of law.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#407

Post by nandomrumber »

KurSix wrote: post #367
cesarb wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why should apps have access to a user's SMS / RCS? It could be an alternative SMS app like TextSecure. One of the best features of Android is that even built-in default applications like the keyboard, browser, launcher, etc can be replaced by alternative implementations. It could also be a SMS backup application (which can also be used to transfer the whole SMS history to a new phone). Or it could be something like…

I'm not sure it's entirely fair to say this is just Google flexing control

Last year Australians reported losing AU$20 million to phishing attacks, and AU$318 million to scams of all types.

It stands to reason that financial service industry peak bodies are in conversation with governments and digital service providers, including data providers, to try to better protect users.

There are obvious conflicting goals, and the banks / governments can’t really appear to be doing nothing.

And technical users are probably most certainly lacking a representative at the table, and are the group that has the least at stake. Whacko fringe software-freedom extremists, they probably call us.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#408

Post by croemer »

Actual title is "Android developer verification: Early access starts now as we continue to build with your feedback"

Two key announcements:

> we are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn't verified.

> We are using your input to shape a dedicated account type for students and hobbyists. This will allow you to distribute your creations to a limited number of devices without going through the full verification requirements.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#409

Post by Aachen »

catlikesshrimp wrote: post #79
ryandrake wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's take the "W". This is pretty good news!

I am not english native. Is "The W" a synonym for "A Win", described as a positive outcome after a contest? Is there more nuance or context than that?

The others answered the question, but I wanted to add that this is "new English" to me as well (also non native though). I first saw it in chats with mostly teenagers in ~2021, where I've also learned "let's go" isn't about going anywhere at all (it means the same as w)

This is the first sign we're getting old :) new language features feel new. The language features I picked up in school, that my parents remarked upon, were simply normal to me, not new at all. I notice it pretty strongly nowadays with my grandma, where I keep picking up new terms in Dutch (mainly loan words) but she isn't exposed to them and so I struggle to find what words she knows. Not just new/updated concepts like VR, gender-neutral pronouns, or a new word for messages that are specifically in an online chat, but also old concepts like bias. It's always been there but I'd have no idea what she'd use to describe that concept

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