Google has announced the addition of a new security feature to the Android system, which requires the identity of developers to be authenticated before allowing users to download their apps via sideloading from outside the Google Play Store.

The company explained that the decision came after recent analyses showed that apps downloaded from external sources contain malware at a rate that is about 50 times higher than those available through its official store. The move aims to protect users from fraudulent attempts and falling victim to malware spread by untrusted actors.

According to Google, an app will only be installed on devices running certified versions of Android if it is registered by a developer whose identity has been verified by Google.