Later this year, Google is introducing new Android developer verification. For power users, Android will offer an “advanced flow” to disable the verification requirement.
This “advanced flow” is for power users and enthusiasts who “want to take educated risks to install software from unverified developers.” Google says it was “designed carefully to prevent those in the midst of a scam attempt from being coerced by high pressure tactics to install malicious software.”
In these scenarios, scammers exploit fear – using threats of financial ruin, legal trouble, or harm to a loved one – to create a sense of extreme urgency. They stay on the phone with victims, coaching them to bypass security warnings and disable security settings before the victim has a chance to think or seek help.
The advanced flow process starts by enabling Developer mode. Go to your Settings app > About phone and find the Build number. Tap that line seven times until you see “You are now a developer!” Afterwards, “Developer options” will appear under the System menu or in search.
- You then have to confirm that you aren’t being coached/guided/instructed by a bad actor to turn off the security measures.
- This is followed by a device restart and re-authentication that “cuts off any remote access or active phone calls a scammer might be using to watch what you’re doing.”
- A required “Security wait” takes one day to “confirm that this is really you who’s making this change with our biometric authentication (fingerprint or face unlock) or device PIN.” This is a one-time wait.
- Afterwards, you can install apps from unverified developers indefinitely, while there’s also a 7-day “Turn on temporarily” option.
The install prompt still shows a “warning that the app is from an unverified developer,” but you can tap “Install Anyway.”
The advanced flow will be available this August for all versions of Android (via Google Play services) before the new developer verification requirements start. Additionally, limited distribution accounts that allow you to share apps with up to 20 users without needing to pay the registration fee or government ID will be available at the same time.
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