Google wanted to specify that those who install applications such as Gmail and Google Maps on the new Huawei smartphones incur serious dangers: here are which ones
Huawei tries to do without Google, but Google warns Huawei users: you risk big. After the recent announcement of the first Huawei and Honor devices outside of China that will no longer have Google Mobile Services, replaced by Huawei Mobile Sevices, Big G’s response was not long in coming.
That is not actually a threat, as it might seem at first glance, but a due clarification: users of these smartphones will not be able to download and install Android apps directly from the Play Store, neither those of Google nor those of other developers. And, as a result, Google takes no responsibility for any malware or other problems resulting from the so-called “sideload” which, by the way, doesn’t even guarantee that the downloaded app will then work smoothly and as originally intended. But what exactly is this all about and what do Huawei and Honor users risk?
No Google on Huawei devices
Because of Donald Trump’s now well-known ban on a list of Chinese companies, including those of the Huawei group, that can no longer do business with American companies without going through the US government’s okay, the collaboration between Huawei and Google has been practically interrupted for over six months already. Huawei still integrates the Android operating system on its devices, but in its open source version and without official support. Huawei devices also can’t leave the factories with Google’s standard apps (Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Calendar, etc etc…) nor with Google’s mobile services. But while Google’s services can be acceptably replaced by Huawei’s, millions of users are unlikely to want to be without Google’s apps. And therein lies the problem, which has prompted Google to warn Huawei users.
Beware of sideload
Android apps are downloaded from the Play Store, which is a fairly secure store thanks to the Play Protect service. Which sometimes lets a few viruses through, as we know by now, but generally protects users from the bulk of threats. If users can’t download apps from Google and other developers directly from the Play Store (which doesn’t work with Huawei Mobile Services), then they’ll look elsewhere, on parallel stores, and download them from there. It’s what’s known as “sideload” and, Google says, it’s a risk: “Google apps downloaded with sideload won’t work reliably because we don’t allow these services to run on non-certified devices, where security could be compromised. Sideloading Google apps also carries a high risk of installing an app that has been altered or tampered with in ways that may compromise user security.”