New Delhi, Sept. 11 -- Android has always stood apart for its openness with sideloading giving users the freedom to install apps from outside the Play Store. Google is now changing that formula. The company recently said all third-party apps must be digitally signed by verified developers, as outlined by Google VP Suzanne Frey in the Android Developers Blog. Any app that fails this check will not install, even if the user turns off Play Protect or follows every usual warning. Google claims this step is about safety, comparing it to ID checks at airports and says it will stop malware while making sure users know who is behind every install.

This is not new to users of Windows or Mac, where developer signatures are standard for software. B...