While Google should soon offer the first beta of Android 15, the next major update of the Mountain View firm’s operating system would bring, according to recent Developer Previews, a number of new functions, but also security measures. reinforced security, particularly with regard to the installation of applications.
The freedom offered by Android in terms of installing applications is both an advantage and a risk, especially since Google’s control stops the moment the user leaves the Play Store, which is allowed by a little more the implementation of the DMA. Since Android 14, the system has started to restrict the installation of applications by targeting older versions of Android, currently from Android 6.0 Marshmallow. With Android 15, this restriction should be reinforced: applications developed for versions prior to Android 7.0 Nougat could therefore no longer be installed on devices using this new version of the OS.
The move, revealed in the latest Developer Preview of Android 15, aims to protect users from vulnerabilities associated with older versions of Android. By imposing new minimum requirements, Google encourages developers to keep their apps up to date and follow the latest security standards.
Although this measure may affect a small fraction of available applications, it prevents users from being exposed to outdated applications that may have known security vulnerabilities and thus being targeted by cyberattacks. A measure that can, however, be circumvented by installing the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool and running a specific command: adb install –bypass-low-target-sdk-block FILENAME.apk
The arrival of the first public beta of Android 15 will make it possible to see this, but the new features brought by the OS should be presented in full during Google I/O, the annual developers conference which will be held on the 14th and May 15, 2024 at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View.