Android 14’s first developer preview was released, including a few new features. However, Android 14 will soon be able to display apps that were installed in the background by your smartphone manufacturer or carrier, or by a potentially malicious party, among other features.
Android smartphones have long been plagued by bloatware, particularly those sold by US carriers. Devices frequently come preloaded with several games and apps that do not necessarily need to be there and are often duplicates of existing apps. Additionally, carriers and smartphone manufacturers frequently add apps in the background without the user’s knowledge.
This could also be useful for determining whether an app was installed by malware or another malicious party.
With Android 14, Google makes it easier for users to keep track of apps that were installed in the background. The company says those apps might come from their “device manufacturer” or their carriers. Google clarifies:
Your device manufacturer may install apps on your device in the background, or allow your carrier and other partners to do so.
Any apps listed here aren’t required for your device to function normally. You can uninstall apps you don’t want.
There is an easy uninstall button next to each app, and it is listed if it was installed in the background in the past six months.
Mishaal Rahman was the first to point out the change, and Dylan Roussel has also made it work. As can be seen below, his device includes Spotify and Google Play Services for AR in that list. This appears to be an error, possibly due because the feature is still in its infancy. However, the fact that Inware was installed over ADB supports the idea that this new tool could detect malicious installations.
