Samsung has released its long-awaited One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25, “introducing new and easier ways to create, connect and stay safe.” And while the latest version of Samsung’s One UI Android-wrap will be its most secure yet, it’s not all good news.
From a security standpoint, Samsung says “One UI 8.5 strengthens device protection and gives users clearer control over their security settings. There are two clear security standouts coming with the Galaxy-maker’s latest release— one good and one bad.
The good one is an advance on your phone’s theft protection. “For additional protection, Failed Authentication Lock automatically locks the screen if there are too many failed attempts to verify identity by fingerprint, PIN or password. Identity check also safeguards more settings than before, adding an extra layer of protection.”
The bad one is very different. Per SamMobile, you can now “turn off Auto blocker temporarily — If you need to temporarily disable Auto blocker’s security protection, a new option lets you turn it on automatically 30 minutes later so you don’t forget.”
Samsung’s Auto blocker “protects your Galaxy device and data by preventing the installation of applications from unauthorized sources and blocking malicious activity.” This plays into the tension around sideloading, with Android doing more than ever to restrict the practice that — more than anything — differentiates Android from iPhone.
Samsung is now defaulting to Maximum Restrictions, which includes these restrictions. And Google’s best security update in Android 16 is Advanced Protection, which is a “lite” version of Apple’s Lockdown Mode, and helpfully adds many iPhone-like protections to any Android device running the latest Android OS.
Disabling sideloading is controversial — and Google essentially backtracked from some of its plans to curtail unknown Android developers from next year. Completely open sideloading was painted as an Android freedom for all, but it’s increasingly an expert setting, suitable for advanced users only, at their own risk.
It’s good that Samsung automatically re-enables Auto blocker after 30 minutes, but that’s plenty of time for the damage to be done. Everyday users should not be sideloading except under exceptional circumstances. Given escalating threats, it’s time to de-normalize this on Android — as unpopular as that will be.
And so, unless you’re an expert user, my advice is to stop sideloading and not to use this new One UI 8.5 update. Even 30 minutes is time enough to install dangerous malware, tricked into doing so by social engineering tactics that seem difficult to resist.
