Beginning May 2021, Google can start restricting Android programs from viewing other installed programs on your apparatus. This is a safety measure from Google since it reduces the use of sensitive permissions by programmers for malicious intentions.
Starting May 5, 2021, Google will restrict the use of this “QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES” consent from programmers in their programs. The restriction has been designed to come into effect sooner in 2021. However, Google postponed it before mid-2021 because of COVID-19.
Apps Will No Longer Be Able to See Other Apps Installed on Your Device
On its service webpage, Google notes it is restricting the usage of “QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES” consent for programs that aim API 30+ on devices running Android 11 when a program’s core performance is dependent upon the support, Google mandates which programmers declare this with a form from the Play Console.
The business is making this shift as it considers that programs installed in your device are sensitive and personal, along other programs shouldn’t get this information. The restriction will be appropriate to both new and present apps.
Google is also offering a temporary exclusion to financial and banking transaction programs like electronic wallets in the order they might find a “wide visibility” of these programs installed on a single device for safety reasons.
Selected Apps Can Still See Other Apps Installed on Your Device
Google will eliminate programs that don’t comply with the needs and whose programmers haven’t submitted the statement type from the Play Console. For the time being, it’s just allowing device hunt, anti-virus, document managers, and plugins to utilize the “QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES” approval.
Google states that programmers will be permitted to utilize this consent when their program’s “center user-facing performance or purpose demands comprehensive visibility into installed programs on the consumer’s device.” The center operation described here would be applicable once an app is broken or left useless with no “QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES” permission.
Google also explicitly emphasized use instances where “QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES” consent Won’t be given:
- Where usage of this consent isn’t directly about the core aim of this program.
- Including peer-reviewed (P2P) sharing. P2P has to be the core aim of the program to qualify as a permitted use.
- Once the information is obtained with the intention of selling.
- After the necessary task could be carried out with a general app visibility procedure.
Should you like your privacy, it’s also advisable to prevent Google from constantly listening to you personally.
Another Privacy-Focused Move From Google
Apple has prevented iOS programs from viewing different programs installed within an iPhone. Many programs tend to accumulate this information and sell it to third-party advertisers or even assess consumer behavior.
Therefore this transfer from Google to restrict apps from viewing different programs installed in an Android apparatus is just another measure to beef up user solitude.
