What is sideloading? The benefits and the risks
Sideloading is a term often used in the context of mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets. It refers to installing apps on a device from a source outside of the operating system’s official app store, such as the App Store for iOS or the Google Play Store for Android. android world explains the advantages and disadvantages of sideloading.
What is sideloading?
Normally, apps are downloaded and installed from the official app store like Google Play, with the app being checked and approved before being made available to users. This usually ensures a certain level of security and reliability.
When sideloading, a user bypasses the official app store and installs an app directly from another source, such as a website or another app marketplace (6 examples can be found here). This can be useful in situations where an app is not available in the official app store or when you want to access apps that don’t follow the app store guidelines.
Risks
Be aware, sideloading can be dangerous because apps are not checked like in the official app store. Google Play works with Play Protect. That is a tool that neatly keeps most threats out of the app store. This can lead to downloading malicious or unsafe apps.
Sideloading therefore entails several risks. Here are some examples:
- Security risks: Apps downloaded from sources outside the official app store may contain malware, viruses or other malicious software. These malicious apps can steal personal information, damage the device, or perform other malicious activities.
- Reduced security: Apps in the official app stores are usually checked and screened to ensure they meet certain security standards. Sideloading bypasses these checks, increasing the risk of installing unsafe apps.
- Unreliable sources: Sources outside the official app store may be less reliable. It can be difficult to verify the legitimacy and trustworthiness of the apps and the sources they are downloaded from. This increases the risk of users installing potentially unwanted or unsafe apps.
- Missing updates: Apps installed via sideloading may not receive automatic updates like apps from the official app store. This can lead to the lack of important security patches and new features, making the device more vulnerable to security vulnerabilities.
So, as you can see, be careful about sideloading apps and make sure they come from trusted sources. The editors currently see APKMirror as the only one of the few reliable sources to download apk’s.
We’d love to hear from you! Leave your thoughts in the comments below and share your experience with sideloading.
