Android 14 currently blocks the installation of malware-distributing apps on outdated versions of the operating system

Android 14 will block the installation of apps targeting outdated versions of Android to reduce the possibility of malware. According to a recently released code change, Android 14 is set to tighten API requirements by completely preventing the installation of outdated apps, reports 9to5Google.

This change would prevent users from uploading certain APK files to the page and also prevent app stores from installing the same apps. Initially, Android 14 devices will only block apps that specifically target older Android versions.

According to the report, however, Google plans to gradually raise the threshold to Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) and introduce a mechanism to "gradually raise" it.

However, it is probably up to device manufacturers to decide what the threshold is for outdated apps, or whether to implement them at all. According to a report, the tech giant plans to reduce the spread of malware on Android by blocking these outdated apps.

The report further noted that the developer behind the change notes that some malware programs deliberately target older versions of Android to avoid certain protections that are only enforced in newer programs.

Meanwhile, Google said the upcoming Android 14 would "support our partners to make all this possible" after SpaceX and T-Mobile announced plans to bring direct satellite connectivity to smartphones.

Hiroshi Lockheimer, head of platforms and ecosystems at Google, described on Twitter how difficult it was to get 3G Wi-Fi to work on the first Android phone to ship in 2008 (the HTC Dream/T-Mobile G1).