Submission + - Google clamps down on Android developers with mandatory verification (nerds.xyz)
BrianFagioli writes: Google is rolling out mandatory developer verification for Android apps, and while it says the move is about security, it also means developers will now have to verify their identity and register apps with Google before they can be easily installed on devices. Google claims sideloaded apps contain far more malware than apps from the Play Store, but critics might argue this is another step toward tighter control over the Android ecosystem. Power users can still sideload using ADB or a new “advanced flow,” but Google is clearly adding friction to anything outside its system. Is this a reasonable security measure, or is Android slowly becoming less open than it used to be?
