Google warns against sideloading its apps on new Huawei devices

[midian182]

In context: The US government’s battle with Huawei isn’t showing signs of abating. As such, Google has published an article that explains how the situation affects the Chinese manufacturer’s devices and its services. With Google’s apps not available on new Huawei phones and tablets, the company is advising people not to sideload the likes of Gmail, YouTube, and Maps.

Back in May last year, Huawei was added to an entity list that essentially prevents US companies from doing business with the firm. It means Huawei models launched after May 16, 2019, aren’t certified to run the Play Store or Google’s suite of apps.

Google's Android and Play Legal Director, Tristan Ostrowski, writes that the search giant has received several “questions about new Huawei devices,” particularly when it comes to sideloading its apps. The company advises against this practice, warning that there’s a “high risk of installing an app that has been altered or tampered with in ways that can compromise user security.”

The Mate 30 series: no Google apps and no components that originate from America

Additionally, Google warns that the apps will not reliably work as it does “not allow these services to run on uncertified devices where security may be compromised.”

Ostrowski confirms that Google continues to support Huawei devices sold before it was added to the entity list. These phones and tablets will continue to receive security updates along with updates to Google’s apps and services “as long as it is permitted.”

To find out if your Android device has been certified under Google Play and Protect, open the Google Play Store, tap ‘Menu’ and go to ‘Settings.’ You will see if your device is certified under “Play Protect certification” in the ‘About’ section.

Earlier this month, Huawei told the US to look at its own history of spying on phone networks before accusing it of doing the same thing. Additionally, the US Department of Justice charged the company with conspiracy to steal trade secrets.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/84129-google-warns-against-sideloading-apps-new-huawei-devices.html

 

[Unusual Kmc]

I'm sorry, but has the US provided any evidence as to what Huawei has done wrong?

 

[trgz]

By 'sideload' do they mean install alongside the already installed bloatware on most phones?

 

[Hardware Geek]

By 'sideload' do they mean install alongside the already installed bloatware on most phones?

They mean installing from sources other than the play store.

 

[trgz]

They mean installing from sources other than the play store.

Thanks - I'd not heard the term. I'd also not realised that 'Google Play and Protect' worked on devices as opposed to apps.

 

[Uncle Al]

I'm sorry, but has the US provided any evidence as to what Huawei has done wrong?

It has but unless you have the property security clearance you won't be able to see the "details" .... what I can reveal is that the risks are significant and have been provided to the widest distribution possible. AND, it should be apparent to everyone that when a commercial business like Google issues such a warning, they aren't joking around .....

 

[redhat]

It has but unless you have the property security clearance you won't be able to see the "details" .... what I can reveal is that the risks are significant and have been provided to the widest distribution possible. AND, it should be apparent to everyone that when a commercial business like Google issues such a warning, they aren't joking around .....

Personally I disagree with you, I mean lets have third party audit and then we will all benefit to know if there are risks or not, same apply to kaspersky or any other vendor form any country

 

[lipe123]

It has but unless you have the property security clearance you won't be able to see the "details" .... what I can reveal is that the risks are significant and have been provided to the widest distribution possible. AND, it should be apparent to everyone that when a commercial business like Google issues such a warning, they aren't joking around .....

It has where?!
If that was the case the UK wouldn't go ahead with an entire 5g huawei network. This is the biggest BS story of 2019/2020!!
If there was a security risk/spyware all they had to do was make it public and the problem would go away. This has happened in MANY other occasions where samsung and other vendors have been caught with spyware on their devices.
This entire thing is a BS trade war that Trump started and its not backed by facts in the slightest.

 

[Uncle Al]

It has where?!
If that was the case the UK wouldn't go ahead with an entire 5g huawei network. This is the biggest BS story of 2019/2020!!
If there was a security risk/spyware all they had to do was make it public and the problem would go away. This has happened in MANY other occasions where samsung and other vendors have been caught with spyware on their devices.
This entire thing is a BS trade war that Trump started and its not backed by facts in the slightest.

Nope .... your opinions don't change the facts. Making it public doesn't change anything, just forces them to change their system of delivery. If you want to know more, get yourself a security clearance and you can read all about it.

 

[lipe123]

Nope .... your opinions don't change the facts. Making it public doesn't change anything, just forces them to change their system of delivery. If you want to know more, get yourself a security clearance and you can read all about it.

Saying it's behind some vague security clearance is just different words for "Trust me, I'm not lying. I have no proof but I'm not lying"
How are we conveniently forgetting that every apple phone is manufactured in China, but that's fine?
What about the NSA spying on US citizens(and everyone else) at this very moment today still, but that's fine - look at China nothing to see here.
Nobody in the rest of the world can find any problem but the USA is of course smarter than everyone else that's why they are the only country that has this secret knowledge?

Your ideas of "facts" are not very factual.

 

[Evernessince]

It doesn't really matter. Your phones are made in China regardless and thus are subject to potential subterfuge.

Huawei is a security risk in the sense that they are deeply connected with the Chinese government. That same logic could be used to ban Apple and Google products in other countries around the world. After all, these companies openly comply with US authorities.

 

[pixelfree]

You can´t trust a company that must obeys laws from a dictatorship like China, which has no independent courts. It would be ok if they developed games or cars, but it is not ok to trust them for developing hardware that carries top secret information and can cripple the whole country.