The “dangerous” permissions highlighted by that report include location tracking, access to cameras, contacts and the phone itself. Google’s enhanced protection doesn’t clamp down as widely as that, but focuses on financial exploits that require user credentials and one-time passcodes.

For three years, Google will have to let third-party Android app stores access the Google Play Store's catalog of apps "so that they may offer the Play Store apps to users," said the injunction issued by US District Judge James Donato of the Northern District of California.

In a landmark ruling, Judge James Donato has declared Google's tight grip on the Play Store an illegal monopoly, forcing them to usher in an era of unprecedented openness and competition. This verdict,

We’ve already seen a report from Statista, which showed that as of June 2024, the number of Play Store apps available was down a almost a million apps year-on-year, albeit at 1.7 million titles, there remains an expansive attack surface as the constant game of cat and mouse between bad actors and Google’s security team continues.

U.S. District Judge James Donato issued the injunction after “Fortnite” maker Epic Games convinced a jury that Google illegally monopolized app distribution and in-app payments on Android devices. Google, a unit of Alphabet, contends that complying with the order would harm the company and has filed an appeal.

The ruling could usher in huge changes for the Play Store in the next three years. However, Google plans on appealing the ruling, which stems from the Epic Games antitrust case.

Google will have to distribute third-party stores in the Play Store and give third-party rivals full access to Google Play's catalog of apps, thanks to the latest ruling in its legal battle with Epic Games.

It's taken a while, but Microsoft has announced that you can finally play and buy Xbox games via the Android app

Google's push for big screens will include a (hopefully dramatic) Play Store redesign. The cryptographic key proves an update is legit, assuming your OEM doesn't lose it. Estimates have Google Play cutting 869,000 apps and Apple removing 650,000.

The judge's order said Google must allow users to download competing third-party Android app platforms or stores and can no longer prohibit the use of competing in-app payment met

Epic Games is pushing for big changes to the app store model, and Google isn’t ready to give up control just yet.