Any risks sideloading smart home control apps from third-party sites?

[arnold45778]

I was exploring some smart home apps that aren’t on the Play Store, and found a few available on a third-party app site. Before installing, I started wondering — could sideloading these types of apps pose a risk to the integrity or privacy of my Google Home or Nest setup?

Is there a way to sandbox them or at least verify their safety? I’d love to hear how others here handle this, especially if you're using these kinds of apps for automation or account access.

Appreciate any insights!

[GabrielaG]

Hi @arnold45778,

Thanks for reaching out to the Google Nest community. I understand you were exploring some smart home apps that aren't in the Play Store, wondering if side loading these types of apps could pose a risk to the integrity or privacy of your Google Home or Nest app. I'd be happy to provide some guidance.

We only recommend using your Google Nest devices in conjunction with the Google Home app or Nest app. This helps ensure optimal performance and smooth execution of your automation sequences.

Feel free to keep us posted if you have more questions.

Best regards,

Gabriela

[tyler87432f]

Sideloading smart home control apps from third-party sites can pose significant risks to your privacy, security, and device functionality. Unlike apps downloaded from official app stores, third-party sources often bypass rigorous security checks N7 Game, making them more susceptible to containing malware, spyware, or backdoors. These threats can compromise sensitive personal information, including access credentials for your smart home devices, and potentially allow unauthorized users to control them.

[maddyalex804]

Hello