Google may make Android’s root store updatable via Play Services: report

Google is reportedly working to make Android’s root store upgradable to Android 14 through the Google Play Store. The search giant’s current mechanism only updates root certificates as part of full system updates, which could mean that devices running older Android versions may not be able to connect to the internet if the expired root certificates are not recognized.

according to a report by AndroidPolice citing a tweet by Mishaal Rahman TwitterGoogle might be working on root certificate modules to be introduced via Google Play Services Update. Root certificates are used to authenticate connected Android system devices to establish secure connections. The introduction of root certificate modules via Google Play Services will allow Google to push these updates as needed while preventing older models from falling off the Trust Grid entirely.

The development could have been triggered with a specific root certificate authority, TrustCor, who has been in the news for allegedly having ties to a company known for providing spyware intelligence services. Google has since started removing support for TrustCor certificates on its devices.

Google Chrome desktop version 111 update marks deletion of root certificates issued by TrustCor as trusted. In the case of Android, however, the change could take longer because the root certificates cannot be updated independently, a added blog entry by Mishaal Rahman.

The latest development is trying to change that, as the search giant is working to bundle root certificate updates for its Google Play Store Services updates, which will be released by the company as needed.

However, it is important to note that there is no official confirmation from Google on its plans to release routine root certification updates through the Play Store services.