Hidden Android setting threatens your data: what to disable
Android smartphone owners are advised to check the permission for installing apps from unknown sources, which may have been granted to the Chrome browser. If this feature is active, installing APK files outside of Google Play becomes easier, increasing the risk of malware infection. Attackers use third-party APKs to steal data. Disabling this permission does not affect normal Chrome usage.
Android smartphone owners are advised to check a system permission that allows the Google Chrome browser to install apps from unknown sources. If this feature is activated, installing APK files outside of Google Play becomes easier, increasing the risk of running malicious software. The issue is related to the permission for installing unknown apps. A user can grant this to Chrome or another app, after which it becomes possible to install programs not obtained from the official store. The permission itself does not mean the smartphone is already infected. Danger arises when an APK file is downloaded from a fraudulent or hacked website. Attackers actively use third-party APK files to spread malware. Particularly dangerous are schemes where a smartphone owner is persuaded to download a supposedly necessary update or banking app from a website. The permission can be checked through the smartphone's settings. On Samsung and Xiaomi smartphones, the menu location may differ. Disabling the permission has virtually no effect on normal Chrome usage. For most users, it is safer to install programs through Google Play.