Block apps from Google from the entire app list..
Do you know that any app on your smartphone can see every other app installed on your device, thus accessing sensitive information like dating preferences, banking information, political affiliation and password management, etc.? Google has announced to change the system from May 5 on its Play Store. In an update, Google has said that app developers must provide concrete reasons as to why tech giants let them use other apps on users’ smartphones, reports.
Are you aware that any single app on your smartphone can see every other app that you have installed on your device, thus accessing sensitive information like dating preferences, banking information, political affiliation and password management etc? Google has announced to change this system on its Play Store from May 5. In an update, Google has said that app developers will have to provide a solid reason for why the tech giant should let them access other apps on users’ smartphones, reports arstechnica.
Currently, Android 11 apps that request the “Query All Packages” permission can see the full list of apps you have stored on your device. Google has now updated its Developer Programme Policy, restricting which apps are allowed to use th permission.
“Apps that have a core purpose to launch, search, or interoperate with other apps on the device may obtain scope-appropriate visibility to other installed apps on the device,” Google said.
There’s an exception for financial apps like banking apps and P2P wallets, which the page says “may obtain broad visibility into installed apps solely for security-based purposes.
If your app meets the policy requirements for acceptable use of the “Query All Packages” permission, you will be required to declare this and any other high risk permissions using the declaration form in Play Console.
