Comment by gregoriol
20 days ago
No, the average Janes and Joes don't enable side-loading: it's a toggle, not enabled by default, it's in an advanced setting pane and it's good as it is. Google has been controlling what is installed through their Store and that is enough for 100% of average users. They have been doing it badly though, leaving many scams through, same for Apple. They should focus on this, not the advanced users.
They do, particularly in developing countries because it allows installing cracked versions of paid software or ad removed versions.
They can just follow a YouTube tutorial showing how to get around all the barriers Android added.
It's hard to find reasons to protect someone trying to install a shady app. Using that one reason to kill the possibility to install third-party apps for everyone is shady.
This is also Google's fault - they allow and heavily promote adware on the play store.
The only reason anyone is trying to find cracked apps is because the legitimate apps are, in it of themselves, malware. Typically spyware and adware.