By Danny Bradbury
Publication Date: 2026-03-17 09:59:00
Google just dropped a bombshell for app developers with the latest version of its Android mobile operating system. The company can now prevent apps from installing if they try to use the system’s accessibility features.
The new development, live in version 17.2 of Android, is all about security, explains the company. It stops certain kinds of apps from using the accessibility service if Advanced Protection Mode (APM) is enabled.
The accessibility API lets app developers support users living with disabilities who need extra help using their phones. Apps can use this API to access the screen in unique ways, control input for the user, and use voice services, for example.
Sadly, as with most useful tools, someone will always find a way to misuse it and ruin it for everyone else. Malware developers have been using this API for years as a way into your bank account. The accessibility service has a lot of power: Any app with permissions to use it can read what’s on your…
