How many times did this happen when you access the Google Play Store or iOS App Store you came across apps that haven’t been updated in years? This may seem like an insignificant detail, but it is not at all, because the said “abandonment” of its developer may translate, and in many cases do, into security flaws. And who is it that tells us that no security issue has been identified in them and that it is being abused without those who have released an update that fixes it?

Stores generally encourage users to use recent or recently updated applications, which also include the latest requirements set by those responsible, Google and Apple to offer better performance, more security, and features the latest versions of the operating system. , etc. So far this has been the case, but it seems so those of the seekers decided to go a little furtherchasing old and outdated applications on Google Play.

To this end, as we can read on the official blog for Android developers, from November 1, all existing applications on Google Play should point to API level. to one of the “major” versions of Android released in the last two years. If, after this time, the developer does not upload an update that points to a newer version of the operating system, Google will indicate that it will limit its visibility.

According to Google, these changes seek to make the apps available in the Google Play Store Take advantage of the latest privacy and security features of Android. Facility owners «they hope to take full advantage of all the privacy and security that Android has to offer“, They state in a blog post. “Extending our API requirements at the target level will protect users from installing older applications that may not have these protections“.

I think it is quite a success from Googleand it’s just that, as we’ve seen, both Apple and Google have stepped up the accelerator, both in terms of security and, perhaps even more so, in terms of privacy, which applications need, and their developers are suited for new frames. With this measure, while still waiting for a concrete strategy to reduce the visibility of old applications on Google Play, we are undoubtedly facing further action in the right direction.