Google restricts Android sideloading

>>fsflov+(OP)
As I’ve mentioned here before, sideloading is a genuine security concern, not merely an excuse for Apple to exert control. There is a never-ending stream of people losing their life savings. It happens on Android and not iOS because Android allows sideloading and iOS doesn’t. There is a very real human cost to this.

> Police warn new Android malware scam can factory reset phones; over S$10 million lost in first half of 2023

> There have been more than 750 cases of victims downloading the malware into their phones in the first half of 2023, with losses of at least S$10 million (US$7.3 million).

— https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/android-malware-sc...

> DBS, UOB become latest banks to restrict access if unverified apps are found on customers' phones

> They are the latest banks in Singapore to do so – after OCBC and Citibank – amid a spate of malware scams targeting users of Android devices.

— https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/dbs-uob-anti-scam-...

> 74-year-old man loses $70k after downloading third-party app to buy Peking duck

> “I couldn’t believe the news. I thought: Why am I so stupid? I was so angry at myself for being cheated of my life savings. My family is frustrated and I ended up quarrelling with my wife,” said Mr Loh, who has three children.

— https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/74-year-old-man-loses...

> Singapore Android users to be blocked from installing certain unverified apps as part of anti-scam trial

> "Based on our analysis of major fraud malware families that exploit these sensitive runtime permissions, we found that over 95 per cent of installations came from internet-sideloading sources," it added.

— https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/anduril-secures-305...

> CNA Explains: Are Android devices more prone to malware and how do you protect yourself from scams?

> Why are scammers more likely to target Android users? How do you spot a fake app and what should you do if your device is infected by malware?

— https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/android-malware-sc...

> Nearly 2,000 victims fell for Android malware scams, at least S$34.1 million lost in 2023

> In 2023, about 1,899 cases of Android malware scams were reported in Singapore. The average amount lost was about S$17,960.

— https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/android-malware-sc...

> Android users in Singapore tried to install unverified apps nearly 900,000 times in past 6 months

> These attempts were blocked by a security feature rolled out by Google six months ago as part of a trial to better protect users against malware scams, which led to at least S$34.1 million (US$25.8 million) in losses last year with about 1,900 cases reported.

— https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/android-users-inst...

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