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@Gargron__dup_1@mastodon.social

Post #698802

2025-08-26 04:30 UTC

"Sideloading" is the rentseeker word for "being able to run software of your choosing on a computing device you purchased". There is no reasonable case for an operating system developer having a say over what programs you run on your hardware. #Android #Google

Replies (16)

  • @quincy@chaos.social 2025-08-26 04:48

    @Gargron@mastodon.social 💯%

    Open ##2615654

  • @bananabob@mastodon.nz 2025-08-26 04:51

    @Gargron@mastodon.social :1000:

    Open ##2615659

  • @Gargron@mastodon.social also looking at you, car manufacturers 😐

    Open ##2615660

  • @isocat@tiggi.es 2025-08-26 04:59

    @Gargron@mastodon.social That word "your" is carrying more than its rated weight.

    Open ##2615661

  • @jrdepriest@infosec.exchange 2025-08-26 05:01

    @Gargron@mastodon.social I can't hear "sideload" without thinking about this classic: https://youtu.be/Sa0EtdtPi8w

    Open ##2615662

  • @ivantodorov@mastodon.social 2025-08-26 05:12

    @Gargron@mastodon.social I think this just became so acceptable and the inertia from the consumers just allowed both Apple and Google to do pretty much what they please..

    Open ##2615663

  • @TrimTab@mastodon.social 2025-08-26 05:12

    @Gargron@mastodon.social I agree in spirit, but man... Its only 50% rentseeking... My elderly parents and computer illiterate siblings and coworkers would get in trouble fast if they weren't constrained by 3 software platforms: mint software manager, android play, and MS whatchamacallit. I have pounded it into their heads: never download software candy from strangers. (I live in an anti-apple pocket of the world) But then, i guess all three of those do let you do your own thing to varying degrees.

    Open ##2615664

  • @robchapman@ohai.social 2025-08-26 05:17

    @Gargron@mastodon.social absolutely 💯!!

    Open ##2615675

  • @Gargron@mastodon.social Even the term "Side loading", makes it sound non-standard and risky. Which of course, it doesnt have to be. #AOSP #OpenSource #GrapheneOS

    Open ##2615676

  • @drchaos@sauropods.win 2025-08-30 06:37

    @kkarhan@infosec.space @tranquil_cassowary@infosec.exchange @adventure_tense@mapstodon.space @Gargron@mastodon.social Have you seen the plans? It will be very difficult for F-Droid etc to continue...

    Open ##2615679

  • @kkarhan@infosec.space @drchaos@sauropods.win @adventure_tense@mapstodon.space @Gargron@mastodon.social I only know how it works on GrapheneOS, currently. It doesn't ask credentials for me upon install. It just wants me to allow alternative app stores or the Files app (for downloaded APK files) as an installation source for "unknown apps". It also asks that for the Play Store, given that that is a third-party optional app on GrapheneOS. The "install unknown apps from source" permission doesn't have anything to do with who signed the app, just seems to have to do with the fact that it's not a bundled/default app installer like GrapheneOS App Store is on GrapheneOS.

    Open ##2615681

  • @StaticR@guild.pmdcollab.org 2025-08-26 05:37

    @Gargron@mastodon.social Imagine buying something from a local store instead of amazon was called "sideshopping" and there's a massive campaign to delegitimize buying items from stores not approved by amazon. Completely absurd. Why accept that exact ideology when it comes to installing software on your phone?

    Open ##2615688

  • @Gargron@mastodon.social the review process at Google can be a PITA, but for a good reason. Permissions to access more than an app really needs can be exploited for harvesting private information on a seemless update that most won't even notice. Side loaded apps downloaded from say APK mirror can have been tampered with using smali edits and you won't know. What Google should do is certified dev signing keys to trace and confirm if an APK is legit or not and coming from the actual dev, regardless of being side loaded.

    Open ##2615690

  • @mojo@aus.social 2025-08-26 05:49

    @Gargron@mastodon.social Once you’ve bought the hardware, it’s yours, not a lease where the vendor still dictates your choices. Calling it sideloading makes it sound like something shady, when it’s just freedom to install what you want. #freesoftware #digitalrights

    Open ##3064074

  • @Gargron@mastodon.social in principle, yes, but on the other hand… https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BonziBuddy

    Open ##3064075

  • @paun@digitalcourage.social 2025-08-26 06:48

    @Gargron@mastodon.social Google is selling the sideloading-ban as a measure to enhance security. But would this “security measure” also affect app stores that are already more secure than Google’s Play Store, like @fdroidorg@floss.social ?

    Open ##3064079