zlacker

>>kotaKa+(OP)
Before quickly running to dismiss this move, please at least do your research with regards to the situation in the countries mentioned in the article, especially Singapore and Thailand.

Side-loaded malware has been an epidemic in SE Asia, and there are MILLIONS of dollars stolen (mostly from pensioners!) via side-loaded malware disguised as gambling apps - the local population is particularly suspectible to gambling, especially the older generations that are not so tech-savvy.

It's good they decided to do something about it.

>>ricudi+oi1
So make it an unlockable feature with a big red warning saying something like: 'If you unlock this feature, your money might be stolen, malware could infiltrate your system. You take full responsibility and acknowledge that you are tech-savvy.'

I'm sure if my grandma saw something like that, she wouldn't click it. This way, people who want to stay in a closed garden are protected, while those who want full control have it. The current implementation seems designed for state interests, not the people's.

It shouldn't be impossible. Not every FOSS developer will want to register, or be mature enough, or may be from sanctioned countries, and so forth.

>>dmanti+8w1
I think that you are right, although that is not the only issue.

One of the issues is that perhaps they should also check the software in the official app stores better (I think I had read that Apple does a little bit, although they don't do it so well either, and they don't have side-loading so that is another problem).

However, perhaps a more significant issue is when something requires having Android (or iPhone) even if you do not want that, you cannot use your own (or none at all, if that would make sense which sometimes it does).