With the arrival of Android 14 this year, it seems that security will be yet another important consideration. Google has included something significant that will probably go a long way toward strengthening your device’s security. Google intends to tighten down on applications that are only compatible with earlier iterations of the operating system with Android 14.
Google will probably make it challenging for outdated applications to function on the newer operating systems with Android 14. The future OS will begin preventing applications that are intended to operate on previous Android versions after 9to5Google discovered certain code alterations.
If the minimum installable SDK version enforcement is enabled, block the install of apps using a lower target SDK version than required. This helps improve security and privacy as malware can target older SDK versions to avoid enforcement of new API behavior.
This should not be surprising as Google has a practice of requesting that app developers make sure their applications are created with the most recent Android operating systems in mind. Additionally, the Google Play Store policies mandate that all new applications must at least target Android 12. These rules, however, only apply to applications available via the Google Play Store; sideloading them is still possible without any problems.
With Android 14, this will change as Google works to limit the spread of malware. To do this, Google will begin preventing applications from being developed for previous versions of Android. The Android Marshmallow barrier will be the starting point, but it will rise over time.
Not to mention, with Android 14, Google will enforce tougher guidelines and possibly forbid sideloading of outdated programs. As a result, malware-infected applications won’t be able to take advantage of the lax security on earlier Android releases, which is a positive move.