"Sideloading" is Double Speak – Say this: App Stores Are the Real Threat, Cuckloading

2026-03-03 10:01 UTC

“Sideloading” is framed as some privacy hack, but it’s just double speak. App stores? They are an excuse to steal our control, spying on us, and destroying our privacy, all while deceiving us, pretending to protect us. F-Droid? That is a library, not a store. Stop falling for this scam. Call app stores what they are: Cuckloading!

Replies (7)

@doleo@lemmy.one 2026-03-03 10:14

Omg I read today that Apple are going to make you upload your id just to cuckload from their adstore

Open ##507040
@anthropozaen@feddit.org 2026-03-03 10:22

Apple boot lickers have already shown us that if their overlord say that locking down freedom is for security people will eat it. I think the amount of people installing apks is just a tiny, tiny fraction of Android users. Most people I know just use the play store or don’t even know about apks. My old phone doesn’ get updates anymore so I think I am safe for now, but my next phone will run GrapheneOS on either a Pixel or a Motorola.

Open ##507049
@Axolotl_cpp@feddit.it 2026-03-03 10:32

Imagine cuckloading in the big 26

Open ##507103
@SirHaxalot@nord.pub 2026-03-03 11:41

Jesus Christ this is such a toxic attitude…. If you want people to take you seriously I don’t think being an ass about it and rage-baiting people is the right strategy.

Open ##507169
@cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-03-03 12:03

Sideloading implies you have to jailbreak, like an iPhone. I could sideload apps on my iPhone if I really wanted to, via sidestore. I just don’t have any use for that (and the better options are paid). With Android, Linux, macOS, or Windows, it’s just installing. I use Macs, virtually no Mac users care about the Mac App Store. It’s trash. We don’t like it, we don’t use it. It’s not on my Dock. It’s in the Apple Menu and can’t be removed from there. So I ignore it. Once in a while I look, see it’s still trash, and ⌘+Q that shit. If apps are signed by Apple, installing is as easy as (install wizards) or easier than (drag app icon on Applications shortcut) Windows. Of course ‘brew install’ via the terminal is even better since it bypasses Apple’s gatekeeper service (or can be made to, I forget). Windows it’s a bit less static (no gatekeeper) but more spyware/malware threats. And then there’s Linux. With Android, it’s more like macOS where you gotta deal with a gatekeeper, but it’s easy enough to deal with… for now. (To be clear, easier than macOS outside of ‘brew’, but not as easy as Windows/Linux.)

Open ##507194
@Zerush__dup_9179@lemmy.ml 2026-03-03 13:22

Apps from Google Play are clickbaits and spam sources by definition.

Open ##507326
@Yesbutnotquite@lemmy.world 2026-03-03 14:42

Jesus wept, do we really need to sexualise every single little thing? What’s wrong with calling it a bad idea?

Open ##507622