On a technical level, how is TikTok being blocked/banned in the US?

Can I still sideload the app to my phone? Is it only being banned from the two big app stores? Is there a penalty for being found in possession of the software on US soil?

    • Steve
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      4 hours ago

      Not quite. You don’t need any app store at all.
      You literally download an APK file from a website or anywhere, then install it directly. Could even be a friend with a thumb drive. Doesn’t matter how you get it, it’s just a file.

      • jagged_circle@feddit.nl
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        3 hours ago

        Yeah. Dont do that. Its how you install viruses.

        Install through another app store like fdroid. Its the secure way to get APKs

        • Steve
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          3 hours ago

          That’s got nothing to do with what sideloading means.

          And the risks are very overblown.
          While it’s possible, it’s extremely rare.

          Mostly because the potent target pool is so small. Bigger potentials for bad guys if they trick app stores into approving trojan horse apps, because everyone think app stores are safer.