Google's Android Warning—Do Not Install Any Of These Apps
These apps are dangerous — period.
Google released Android 16 for supported Pixel phones this week, putting pressure on Samsung to rush out One UI 8 to avoid any repeat of One UI 7's frustrations. While the upgrade brings many new features, one stands out — but it comes with a warning.
Advanced Protection Mode, Google says, protects you from 'online attacks, harmful apps, unsafe websites, scam calls and more.' Apple's similar Lockdown Mode is just for 'the very few individuals who, because of who they are or what they do, might be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats.'
Apple says 'most people will never be targeted by attacks of this nature.' But Google's Advanced Protection Mode is different. 'Whether you're an at-risk individual or you just prioritize security,' this 'activates its strongest security for mobile devices, providing greater peace of mind that you're protected against the most sophisticated threats.'
I highly recommend all users enable Advanced Protection after upgrading to Android 16. It enables almost all Android's existing safeguards and prevents them from being disabled. These include theft protection, safe browsing, new scam defenses and auto-blocking unsafe networks and cables. Plus Play Protect, of course.
Advanced Protection Mode
Play Protect is Google's expansive Play Store monitoring and defense tool for known threats installed onto phones via apps, whether or not they come from Play Store. And this is where Advanced Protection Mode takes security to a new level for Android, with that new warning for users enabling the setting.
Advanced Protection Mode.
Advanced Protection Mode blocks sideloading — period. It cannot be disabled. 'Only downloads from pre-loaded app stores will be allowed,' Google says. That doesn't just mean Play Store, of course, Samsung's store will also be allowed for example. Take Google's 'harmful app' warning seriously and stop any sideloading.
This is long overdue for the vast majority of Android users, who are tempted or lured into direct installs or links to third-party stores, installing dangerous, un-filtered apps onto their phones. Once Google flags a risk, it is added to Play Protect but in that interim period, vast numbers of Android users are put at risk.
You should enable Advanced Protection Mode, but even ahead of upgrading to Android 16 you should stop downloading any apps from outside official stores. It's not worth the risk. Google has been heightening its sideloading warnings over the last year. This is a natural culmination of all those warnings and cyber reports flagging malicious apps.
This is a controversial step — sideloading is one of the key differentiators to iPhone, and a favored flexibility tool for diehard Android fans. But for all everyday users, it's too easy an attack vector for bad actors. This latest upgrade is very welcome.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
22 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Google's plan to buy security firm Wiz gets antitrust review
Justice Department antitrust enforcers are reviewing whether Google's planned $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity company Wiz Inc. would illegally limit competition in the marketplace, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Officials in the department's antitrust division, who are probing the deal, have been examining the contours of the Alphabet Inc. unit's plan following its announcement in March, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing a confidential matter. Such inquiries include discussions with the merging companies as well as competitors and customers. The review, which is in its early stages, could last months more. It will ultimately determine whether US officials let the deal proceed. Although full-scale antitrust merger reviews are relatively rare compared to the number of deals announced each year, there are signs that the firms were bracing for scrutiny. Google agreed to pay Wiz a breakup fee of about $3.2 billion, or about 10% of the deal value, if it doesn't close, Bloomberg previously reported. Spokespeople for Google and the DOJ declined to comment on the review. A spokesperson for Wiz didn't respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, Google has been facing intense antitrust scrutiny from Washington. In the past year, the search engine firm was found by federal judges to have illegal monopolies in online search and some advertising technology markets. Following those two rulings, it is facing a potential breakup of large parts of its business, including its Chrome web browser and some advertising tools used to place display ads around the web. Wiz, which provides cloud security, wouldn't be Google's first purchase of a large cybersecurity firm. In 2022, it bought Mandiant for $5.4 billion. Both deals are meant to bulk up the company's cloud computing business, which has historically lagged its peers, including Microsoft Corp. The DOJ also reviewed the Mandiant deal, but never challenged the transaction. Mandiant and Wiz provide complimentary services, with the former specializing in threat intelligence and cyber breaches. Wiz offers similar capabilities but its tools also work to identify and block threats across organizations' often-complex cloud environments. Wiz also works with competing services from Inc., Oracle Corp. and Microsoft. When announcing the deal, Google said the Wiz acquisition was a way to beef up its cloud security offerings and provide customers with new ways to keep their systems secure in a new era of AI. The companies said Wiz's products will continue to work on major cloud platforms, including competing services. Sisco writes for Bloomberg.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Archer Aviation (NYSE:ACHR) Chosen As Official Air Taxi Provider For LA28 Games
Archer Aviation surged 68% over the past quarter, buoyed by recent developments, including its selection as the Official Air Taxi Provider for the LA28 Games and its progression in piloted flight tests for the Midnight eVTOL aircraft. These events likely strengthened investor confidence in the company's future potential, while Archer's improved earnings results further supported its stock performance. In contrast to the broader market, which has risen modestly, Archer's specific advancements and partnerships appear to have played a significant role. The market's general uptrend, underscored by tech gains, may have also indirectly bolstered Archer's returns. Be aware that Archer Aviation is showing 4 risks in our investment analysis and 2 of those are a bit unpleasant. AI is about to change healthcare. These 22 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10b in market cap - there's still time to get in early. Over the past year, Archer Aviation's shares delivered a remarkable total return of 262.20%. This notable performance stands in contrast to the broader US market's 11.2% and the US Aerospace & Defense industry's 33.2% returns for the same period. Archer's engagement as the Official Air Taxi Provider for the LA28 Games and advancements in flight tests greatly contributed to this substantial growth, strengthening investor sentiment around future revenue streams. Despite Archer's impressive share price movement, the company's earnings forecasts remain challenged due to its current unprofitability, with a net loss of US$93.4 million for Q1 2025. However, partnerships and product developments might sustain significant revenue growth expectations at 58.1% annually. The share price's close alignment with the US$12.00 analyst price target hints at constrained near-term valuation potential, yet its trading status at 69.3% below fair value signals room for future growth as market and industry trends continue to evolve. Understand Archer Aviation's track record by examining our performance history report. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NYSE:ACHR. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Visa's Fintech Expansion: A New Era of Scalable Digital Payments?
Visa Inc. V focuses on sharpening its edge in the digital payments space through robust and growing fintech partnerships, acquisitions and platform building. It is redefining its role from a card network to a vital technology partner in the ever-changing payments landscape. The company saw impressive growth in payment volume during the second quarter of fiscal 2025, resulting from its partnerships with fintech companies and the increase in consumer spending on its app-based platforms. In fiscal 2023, Visa's payment volume rose 9% year over year on a constant-dollar basis, which grew 8% year over year in fiscal 2024, followed by an 8% increase in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. In the same quarter, processed transactions grew 9% year over year. Our model suggests a 9.9% year-over-year increase in processed transactions in fiscal 2025. Visa extended its partnership with TabaPay, which is serving over 6,500 fintechs and businesses. With Visa Direct, the company introduced push-to-account and wallet features alongside the existing push-to-card option. It also launched a new program, Visa Commercial Integrated Partners, designed to improve connectivity between fintechs and Visa Commercial products. Visa's proactive strategies reflect its active move to shape the new era of payments. As the demand for digital payment rises globally, the company's position as a flexible infrastructure partner might be its valuable long-term advantage. Some of V's competitors in the fintech payments space are Mastercard Incorporated MA and PayPal Holdings, Inc. PYPL. Mastercard reported a 15% Y/Y increase in cross-border volumes in the first quarter of 2025. In the same quarter, its payment network net revenues grew 13% year over year. Mastercard projects adjusted net revenues to witness low-teens growth in 2025. PayPal Holdings' total payment volume increased 3% year over year in the first quarter of 2025. The company's payment transactions decreased 7% year over year in the same quarter. PayPal Holdings anticipates the transaction margin to be in the range of $15.2-$15.4 billion in 2025. Shares of Visa have jumped 12.3% in the year-to-date period, outperforming the 8.5% growth of the industry. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, V trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 30.1, above the industry average of 23.7. V carries a Value Score of D. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa's fiscal 2025 earnings implies a 12.9% jump from the year-ago period. It witnessed 11 upward estimate revisions in the past 60 days against one downward movement. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Visa stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Mastercard Incorporated (MA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Visa Inc. (V) : Free Stock Analysis Report PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
