Google Play will Block Downloads of Outdated Apps

The United States-based tech giant, Google has announced that in order to protect its users from installing outdated apps which can put their data at risk, it has blocked and hide apps on Play Store that have not kept up with the latest Android operating system (OS) updates. It further informed that starting from November 1, those apps that have not targetted an API level within two years of the latest major Android release version will not be available for installations or downloads for new users with devices running Android OS versions higher than apps' target API level. Informing about the company’s latest update, Krish Vitaldevara, Director of Product Management said: "As new Android OS versions launch in the future, the requirement window will adjust accordingly." To ensure better privacy and enhanced security for its users, the tech giant is taking additional steps to protect users from installing apps that may not have the latest privacy and security features by expanding its target-level API requirements. Google further said: "Expanding our target level API requirements will protect users from installing older apps that may not have these protections in place.”