Chrome’s upcoming update could make downloading APKs less bothersome

Edgar Cervantes from Android Authority reports that Google Chrome for Android may soon reduce the frequency of the “file may be harmful” warning. This warning will no longer appear if the user has Google Play Protect enabled. However, if Play Protect is disabled, the warning will still show, along with a new warning to enable Play Protect. While the Google Play Store is the main source for Android apps, there are other third-party stores and websites available to download apps from. When using Google Chrome to download apps from these sources, users typically need to acknowledge the potential harm of the files before downloading them. Google Chrome is working to decrease the number of times this warning is displayed. The presence of Google Play Protect will now determine when the warning is shown. Play Protect scans for harmful apps and will soon offer deeper scans using on-device AI. The Chrome team plans to disable the warning when Play Protect is enabled and will only show it if Play Protect is disabled. A video demonstrating the proposed changes shows how the warning will be displayed based on Play Protect status. The changes will be rolled out in two parts: first with a Play Protect prompt on “dangerous downloads” and second by disabling the warning when Play Protect is enabled. These changes aim to improve the user experience for those who frequently download APK files. Users can share tips with the Android Authority staff via email at news@androidauthority.com.

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