Samsung Warns Millions Of Galaxy Users—Do Not Install These Apps

In a surprise move, Samsung has made a radical switch with its latest devices and OS to fundamentally change how Android works. This brings Samsung’s UI even closer to iPhone, and goes much further than the broader restrictions due with Android 15. But because this is Android, the change will clearly trigger a strong response.

While Google’s Play Store has huge security issues of its own, the real threat to Android devices comes from third-party app stores and direct installs. These do not offer the same screening defenses as the official store, and provide a ready means for threat actors to push dangerous installs across social media, messengers and email.

ForbesSamsung Confirms Early Update For Millions Of Galaxy Users-Coming In AugustBy Zak Doffman

In its underlying OS, Android differentiates between apps sourced from official stores or from elsewhere, but the default setting is to enable such apps to install. Google’s Play Protect provides some security for such downloads, albeit not on a par with the screening process around Play Store itself. Android 15 will bring live, AI-based monitoring for such apps to flag risks in real time, but that’s not yet here.

Starting with its One UI 6 deployment of Android 14, Samsung provided “enhanced security through a feature called Auto Blocker… When enabled, Auto Blocker protects your Galaxy device and data by preventing the installation of applications from unauthorized sources and blocking malicious activity.”

Until now, this setting has required manually enabling, but that is about to change. Samsung has confirmed that “starting with One UI 6.1.1, additional security features including Maximum Restrictions, have been added.”

This uber-security mode makes a huge difference to the defenses around Galaxy devices, and despite the inevitable push back from some users will be a very welcome change fore the vast majority of users.

As Samsung explains on its support site, Maximum Restrictions enables an array of “extra-strong protections,” including:

• Turns on App protection: Checks apps installed for malicious activity.
• Blocks device admin apps: Prevents activation of device admin apps and work profiles to protect against potential malicious attacks.
• Blocks auto downloading attachments: Prevents automatic downloads of message attachments to protect against malicious software, while still allowing manual downloads from trusted sources.
• Blocks hyperlinks and previews: Protects you from accidentally clicking on hyperlinks or viewing preview images, keeping you safe from malicious websites.
• Removes location data when sharing pictures: Prevents the recipient from being able to determine where the picture was taken when you attach a picture to a message in Samsung Messages or share a picture from Samsung Gallery.
• Blocks shared albums: Protects you from sharing sensitive information and accepting invites from unknown senders.

As Android Authority reports, “starting with new Galaxy smartphones and tablets that launch with One UI 6.1.1, Samsung has decided to block users from being able to sideload apps from unauthorized sources… We’ll likely start to see complaints arise soon on online forums about side-loading being blocked on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6… Fortunately, it’s really easy to disable Auto Blocker.”

Any users that have already disabled these restrictions will see that preference carry through to the new UI, as such you will not notice any change. For almost all users, though, my advice would be to leave it enabled.

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There are huge changes coming to Play Store in the coming weeks, with Google’s confirmed purge of many thousands of low-quality apps. This will net a significant number of malicious apps, making the store safer. Google is on a mission to tidy up the ecosystem—no more wild west. Samsung is now taking that even further.

With these security innovations, Android is heading in iPhone’s direction from a control perspective. Many users won’t like this, but most will be safer for it.