In an effort to combat the spread of these clones, Google has implemented stricter security measures in recent versions of Android. Features like Google Play Protect, which scans apps installed from outside the store, act as a gatekeeper. Furthermore, the Android installation flow for unknown apps has become more granular and transparent, requiring users to explicitly grant permission on a per-app basis rather than a global setting. While these measures do not eliminate the ability to install clone APKs, they add friction to the process, forcing users to acknowledge the risks they are taking.

create a "virtual space" on your phone to run a second copy of an app with its own data.