Google is ready to take new measures that will offer the user extra security when downloading and using apps from the Play Store. The company, in particular, has warned developers that those apps that have not been updated for a while to adapt to new versions of Android, will no longer show up in your app store and therefore will not be available to the user.
The company has confirmed in its official developer blog that this measure will start on November 1, 2022. It will apply, above all, to those apps available on Google Play that have not received any update from the developer for two years. While it is likely that there are applications that do not require constant updates, the Mountain View firm ensures that eIt is important that they all offer support for the latest versions of Android.
That is why those creators who do not update their application and include at least one API available during the two years after the last version of Android, will see their app it stops showing on google play and how the number of new user installations is reduced.
Few apps are in this situation
Google assures that the main reason is to offer extra protection to the user, given that outdated apps do not include those security and privacy features announced in the latest versions of Android. The company, however, clarifies that there are few apps that do not receive updates. In addition, it will offer additional tools so that those developers who have an outdated app on Google Play can update it with the new security measures.
“As of November 1, 2022, existing apps that do not target an API level within two years of the last major version of Android will not be available for discovery or installation to new users with devices running Android. Android OS versions higher than the apps target API level. As new Android OS versions are released in the future, the requirement window will be adjusted accordingly.”
Google Play Store has been applying measures to strengthen security and privacy for months
A few months ago, Google Play also applied different privacy and security measures for its application platform. Google, in particular, is forcing developers who publish their apps to be more transparent about the data they collect from users. It also prohibits requesting data that is not related to some of the functions of the app.
Google also does not allow the publication of those apps that promote sexual content. Among them, apps for sexual encounters, or that have explicit content, such as pornography. The company, remember, carries out a review process for each candidate application to be published in Google Play Store. Therefore, these are blocked even before they are available on the platform.