Android phones are great because they allow you to download apps from various places. Most users obtain and download their applications through the Google Play Store. Users occasionally require the installation of apps which cannot be accessed through the Play Store, so they perform a procedure called Sideloading Third-Party Apps. The apps amuse yet their security status remains uncertain. That is where Google Play Protect is needed.
Google Play Protect is something that ensures that your phone stays safe by scanning apps for viruses or anything dangerous. It ensures that apps downloaded will not affect your phone adversely. However, Play Protect will prevent you from doing that if you want to install an app sideways (from somewhere other than the Play Store). This is because it Scan apps with Play Protect, even those that are not from the Play Store. If you disable Play Protect to sideload an app, your phone may get infected with malware or a virus. Google has introduced a new feature to make sideloading more secure. Now you can temporarily disable Play Protect when you're going to sideload an app, but retain it later for the security of your phone. Let's learn how this goes.
What Is Google Play Protect?
Let's familiarize ourselves with what Google Play Protect is and how it secures your phone before we discuss the pause feature.
Google Play Protect is essentially a shield for your phone. It checks each application that you download to see if it is safe or not. It checks for it even after downloading the app, to ensure it does not all of a sudden become malicious and harm your phone in any way. Google Play Protect monitors your apps to keep you safe from things such as:
- Viruses that slow down your phone or steal your data
- Malware that will attempt to spy on you or steal your personal information
- Junk apps that do things such as displaying too many ads or attempting to scam you out of your personal information
Google Play Protect is usually quite useful most of the time. But occasionally when folks sideload apps, it does get in the way. When you sideload, you obtain apps from websites or sites other than the Google Play Store. Google doesn't scan these apps, so you need to be cautious. That is the reason why Google developed a new mechanism to pause Play Protect whenever you are installing an app from somewhere else.
The New Pause Feature in Play Protect
The newly introduced pause functionality of Google Play Protect is what allows you to turn Play Protect off temporarily when sideloading apps. Thus, you still have the liberty of sideloading apps but no longer fear that Play Protect would prevent you from doing it. The good news is that you do not have to recall enabling it again because it automatically turns on after a day.
Below is the step-by-step guidance:
Go to phone's Settings: Open the settings app.
Find Play Protect: Scroll down in the settings to look for the Google section. Press on it and locate Play Protect.
Pause Play Protect: Inside the Play Protect settings, there is an option of "Pause" Play Protect. It temporarily disables the protection, only while you are installing the sideloaded application.
Wait 24 hours: 24 hours from now, Play Protect will automatically turn back on. Your phone will be protected again.
This is a wonderful feature because it lets you sideload apps without putting your phone in danger for too long. After the pause time is up, Play Protect will resume scanning apps once more and protecting your phone from any malicious apps that attempt to get through.
Why is This Pause Feature Important?
You may be asking yourself why Google included this pause feature. The reason is easy. The act of sideloading apps does not bring guaranteed safety benefits. The installation of sideloaded apps can result in virus or malware infections, which damage your smartphone. Your attempt at app sideloading will often be blocked by Play Protect since it works to maintain app security. Occasionally, however, people want to sideload apps even when this occurs.
Before this pause feature, if you had to sideload an app, you previously had to turn off Play Protect altogether. This would leave your phone slightly less secured for a period. Without Play Protect, you could end up downloading bad programs unwittingly that would steal money from you or destroy your phone.
Now that pause is on, you can sideload apps without worrying about whether your phone will be safe. You can disable Play Protect for a day, and then it will automatically come back on. It's a whole lot safer to sideload apps now!
The Risks of Sideloading Apps
Though sideloading apps can be great fun and give you a chance to access apps not found in the Google Play Store, it is not safe. Sideloading is the process of downloading applications from websites or sources that are not Google-approved. At times these apps are unsafe. Some of the issues that can be faced with sideloaded applications are as follows:
Viruses and malware: There might be hidden programs in some sideloaded apps that can damage your phone.
Fake apps: There might be apps that pretend to do something but are trying to steal your information or spy on you.
Poor performance: Sometimes, sideloaded apps might not work as well as Play Store apps and can slow down your phone.
This is why Google Play Protect is valuable. It scans apps to ensure that they are safe. The pause feature is also beneficial because it will permit sideloading apps, but your phone is not left vulnerable for long.
Why You Should Be Careful When Sideloading Apps?
Even with the pause function making sideloading safer, you still have to be cautious. Not all third-party applications are safe. These are some tips on how to make sure you are safe when sideloading apps:
Be cautious about sources: Get apps from sites or locations you know and trust.
Inspect app reviews: While you're thinking about installing an app, review some reviews or read what individuals are saying regarding it. It will inform you if the app is secure or whether other people encountered an issue.
Turn on Play Protect: While you are not sideloading, switch on Play Protect in order to maintain your phone secure.
Users should select Play Store applications because this ensures the best level of security for their device. Before users can access possible apps through the Play Store, the platform verifies their security status to ensure safety.
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If you require a mobile app development Dubai for your company, DXB APPS can design one that's secure, easy to use, and a good performer for your users. They're experienced at building apps that safeguard your data and give you a smooth experience no matter what. Whether you require an application that's simple or a little more complex, DXB APPS has you covered.
Conclusion:
Google's new pause feature for Play Protect is a great tool for those who love sideloading apps on their Android phone. You can pause Play Protect for 24 hours while you sideload apps from other sources, but it will automatically switch on to safeguard your phone. The feature is great since it allows you to sideload apps without exposing your phone to malware.
