sideloading Archives

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

XYZAPK Free Download: How to Safely Access Premium Android Apps

XYZAPK is an independent repository specializing in APK files for Android applications, offering modded apps, unpublished versions, and region-restricted software. Users can download APKs for free without needing a Google account. The official XYZAPK website provides secure downloads and installation guides, organized into sections for apps and games. The download process involves browsing for an app, tapping "Download APK," and installing it after enabling "Unknown Sources." Popular downloads include modified versions of Spotify Premium, Minecraft Arcade, and PikaShow. Benefits of using XYZAPK include access to premium apps without costs, bypassing region locks, and privacy from Google account requirements. However, risks involve increased malware exposure, lack of official updates, and potential legal issues. To ensure safety, users should verify the official site, check user ratings, use antivirus software, review permissions, and back up their devices. Compared to other platforms like APKPure or Uptodown, XYZAPK is known for its modded versions, while the latter focus on official releases with enhanced safety checks.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Google Will Prevent Unknown App Downloads During Calls On Android 16

Google has introduced Advanced Protection for Android devices, aimed at enhancing security for users, especially those in public-facing roles. This feature was showcased on May 13, 2025, and will be released with Android 16 in June. Key functionalities include an Offline Device Key, Theft Detection, and Play Protect. Advanced Protection will restrict sideloading applications and downloading from third-party sources. It also blocks downloads from unknown sources during active phone calls and restricts access to banking applications during calls. Users will be unable to share screens with third-party applications while on calls. The initiative is currently being tested in various countries.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Android launches new protections against phone call scammers

Google is implementing new features to enhance security for Android users against phone call scams. Users will be restricted from sideloading applications or granting sensitive permissions while on a call with an unknown contact, receiving a notification that states, “This setting is blocked to protect your device.” Google has also prevented users from disabling its Play Protect security service during calls. These measures are available for devices running Android 16. Additionally, Google is piloting a feature for banking apps in the UK that alerts users of a “likely scam” when accessing these apps while sharing their screen with an unknown caller. Users can choose to end the call or face a 30-second delay before accessing their banking app’s screen. This feature will roll out for devices running Android 11 and newer. These updates build on existing scam protection tools, including AI that identifies potential scam callers and integrates scam detection into Google Messages.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

Your Android phone is getting a huge security upgrade for free

Google has introduced a suite of security tools for Android users to protect against various threats, including: 1. Protection against Scam Calls: Alerts users to potential scam calls and blocks harmful actions, focusing on disabling Google Play Protect, preventing sideloading of unverified apps, and restricting accessibility permissions. 2. In-call Protections for Banking Apps: A feature that warns users when they open banking apps while sharing their screen with unknown callers, starting in the UK, and automatically enabled for participating banks on devices running Android 11 or higher. 3. Improved Scam Detection in Google Messages: Enhanced scam detection capabilities that now cover a wider range of scams, including toll road, cryptocurrency, financial impersonation, gift card, and technical support scams. 4. Better Encryption for Text Messages via Key Verifier: A tool that allows users to confirm contacts' identities through public encryption keys, enhancing privacy and security. 5. Stronger Mobile Phone Theft Protection: Expanded theft protection features, including the Identity Check tool, restrictions on unauthorized factory resets, and obscured one-time passwords on the lock screen. 6. Advanced Protection for Mobile Devices: An Advanced Protection Program offering cryptographic verification for all login operations, available on devices running Android 16. 7. Improvements to Google Play Protect: Upgrades to identify malicious apps before installation and live threat detection to alert users of suspicious app behavior. 8. Enhancing Overall Android Security: Ongoing commitment to improve Android security through regular updates and new tools to protect users from evolving cyber threats.

Winsage

May 10, 2025

Huawei’s HarmonyOS Takes On Windows 11 with Enhanced UI and Performance — But Deprived of App Sideloading & Backward Compatibility

Huawei has introduced HarmonyOS Next, its latest operating system for consumer laptops, designed exclusively for modern laptop models and lacking backward compatibility with older devices. The OS features AI-driven functionality through Celia, Huawei's AI assistant, and comes pre-installed with essential applications like WPS Office. Visually, it resembles Apple's macOS, including a software shortcut bar at the bottom of the screen. HarmonyOS Next restricts sideloading applications, requiring users to access software through Huawei's native "App Gallery," a strategy aimed at reducing reliance on Western software among Chinese consumers.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Mojang’s big Minecraft VR mistake

Mojang has officially discontinued VR support for the Bedrock version of Minecraft on PCs, ending a VR initiative that began in April 2016. The Gear VR version was initially available on devices like the Oculus Go and original Oculus Quest, but support for older games on the Oculus Quest 2 rendered these experiences obsolete. Modders, particularly through the Vivecraft mod, have filled the gap left by Mojang, with QuestCraft being a notable port for Meta Quest headsets. Despite Mojang's claims of lacking resources for VR, the company has over 55 million daily active players and a workforce of more than 600 employees, indicating financial stability. The demographics of the Meta Quest user base suggest a strong potential interest in Minecraft if officially supported. Recent collaborations between Meta and Microsoft hint at potential opportunities for an official Minecraft VR port, yet progress remains stagnant. The QuestCraft Discord server has 80,000 members, indicating significant interest in a VR version of Minecraft, which could attract hundreds of thousands of active users.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

This E Ink tablet that runs on Android is irreplaceable when I’m traveling

The Onyx Boox Page is a seven-inch E Ink display e-reader priced at 9. It operates on a simplified version of Android 11, allowing users to download various applications such as Kindle, TikTok, and Google Docs. The device facilitates note-taking and integrates apps for enhanced productivity. It includes a flip case for protection, customizable user interface options, and straightforward access to settings. The Boox Page features a Library and Store app for free book downloads and supports sideloading of ebooks and audiobooks. It has a battery life rated for up to six weeks, 32GB of base storage, and a microSD card slot for expansion. The device has received updates, including an AI assistant powered by ChatGPT.

AppWizard

April 21, 2025

Google Calculator 8.7 rolling out with a spacing tweak

Google has released version 8.7 of its Android Calculator app, which includes an increase in spacing between the last row of buttons and the gesture navigation bar to alleviate visual confusion. This adjustment is consistent across both portrait and landscape orientations. The update is currently being rolled out through the Play Store, with limited availability, and sideloading options are available for eager users. The previous significant overhaul of the app occurred in 2022, introducing a two-column user interface and a Quick Settings Tile.

Tech Optimizer

April 16, 2025

Hackers find a way around built-in Windows protections

Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) is a built-in security feature on Windows PCs that restricts the execution of unauthorized software by allowing only trusted applications. However, hackers have discovered multiple methods to bypass WDAC, exposing systems to malware and cyber threats. Techniques for bypassing WDAC include using Living-off-the-Land Binaries (LOLBins), DLL sideloading, and exploiting misconfigurations in WDAC policies. Attackers can execute unauthorized code without triggering alerts from traditional security solutions, enabling them to install ransomware or create backdoors. Microsoft operates a bug bounty program to address vulnerabilities in WDAC, but some bypass techniques remain unpatched for long periods. Users can mitigate risks by keeping Windows updated, being cautious with software downloads, and using strong antivirus software.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

SpyNote Android malware resurfaces in campaign using spoofed app install pages

A report from DomainTools LLC reveals that cybercriminals are using newly registered domains to distribute the SpyNote Android remote access trojan (RAT) by creating fake websites that resemble legitimate Google Play app installation pages. These counterfeit pages often include familiar visual elements to deceive users into downloading harmful APK files, such as a site mimicking the TikTok installation page. The downloaded files typically contain variants of SpyNote, which can conduct surveillance, harvest sensitive information, and execute remote commands on compromised devices. The delivery mechanism involves a two-stage process where a dropper APK installs a secondary APK with core spyware functionalities, utilizing JavaScript to trigger downloads from fake install buttons. Common characteristics of the domains distributing SpyNote include registration with NameSilo LLC and XinNet Technology Corp., hosting on infrastructure linked to Lightnode Ltd and Vultr Holdings LLC, and the presence of SSL certificates. The malware delivery sites contain code in both English and Chinese, suggesting a Chinese-speaking threat actor may be involved. SpyNote has been associated with advanced persistent threat groups targeting individuals in South Asia, including those in the Indian defense sector. Once installed, SpyNote requests intrusive permissions to access SMS, contacts, call logs, camera, microphone, and location services, and employs persistence mechanisms that make it difficult to remove. DomainTools advises users to be vigilant against spoofed app pages and avoid sideloading APKs from unverified sources.