Boston.com

Stay connected with Boston.com and find out what Boston really cares about

Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC · com.thoughtbot.boston_com_news

Not rated yet 50K+ downloads vv5.12.19 65.9 MB Android 6.0+ PEGI 3 · Everyone

Download APK 65.9 MB All versions

Signature matches the Google Play version Details

At a glance

Latest version: vv5.12.19 (4908175)
Updated: Oct 6, 2026 (3 days ago)
APK size: 65.9 MB
Requires: Android 6.0+ (API 23)
CPU support: x86 32-bit, x86 64-bit, ARM (legacy), ARM 32-bit, ARM 64-bit, MIPS, MIPS 64-bit
Graphics: OpenGL ES 2.0+
Category: News & Magazines (app)
Listed since: Apr 8, 2021 (at least)
Permissions: 19 (2 sensitive)
Website: boston.com/mobile
Developer contact: [email protected]
Privacy: Developer's privacy policy

About this APK

Boston.com is an app by Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC in the News & Magazines category, listed since at least April 2021. It includes native code for x86 32-bit, x86 64-bit, ARM (legacy), ARM 32-bit, ARM 64-bit, MIPS and MIPS 64-bit, so it runs on practically every phone.

Since version v5.12.06, the APK grew from 44.3 MB to 65.9 MB and the minimum Android version rose from 5.0 to 6.0. It asks for 19 permissions, 2 of them sensitive: precise location and approximate location. It asks for the same permissions as version v5.12.18. The app can read the advertising ID that ad and analytics services use.

What's new in vv5.12.19

New Branding!

Description

From the listing uploaded by “appupdater”.

-- Stay connected with Boston.com and find out what Boston really cares about right now. -- Get curated news alerts, weather updates, sports scores, and more. -- Read and browse stories from our team of journalists covering local and national news, the city's four pro sports teams, lifestyle, entertainment, and more.

Version history

4 versions are listed, going back to vv5.12.06. Since vv5.12.08 it requires Android 6.0+.

vv5.12.19 LATEST Oct 6, 2026 65.9 MB TRUSTED vv5.12.18 Aug 12, 2025 65.9 MB TRUSTED vv5.12.08 Aug 30, 2024 65.7 MB TRUSTED vv5.12.06 Aug 17, 2024 44.3 MB TRUSTED

All 4 versions

Security & authenticity

Security rating: Trusted

Signing certificate

Signature matches the Google Play version Checked by the source store on Oct 6, 2026.
Certificate issued to “The New York Times Company” This is the certificate of the Google Play version.
Same certificate as the 3 other versions checked

Store checks and file details

Developer signature verified Oct 6, 2026
Validated against Google Play Oct 6, 2026
Signed byCN=Sagar Hatekar, OU=R & D, O=The New York Times Company, L=New York, ST=NY, C=1
Signing certificate (SHA-1)38:50:50:F0:F1:60:26:62:4F:66:EB:17:BB:B7:82:5C:3F:39:12:30
File MD5461a69844415dd30a8c9e4a902f86770
Uploaded by “appupdater” Gold tier · 117,810 followers · uploading since 2020

Scans and ratings come from the source store; the certificate comparisons are AAPKs's own, made from the files' published signatures (3 other versions compared). AAPKs doesn't scan files itself — compare the MD5 and signer after downloading.

Permissions (19)

Boston.com requests 19 permissions, 2 of them sensitive.

Approximate location Sensitive android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
Precise location Sensitive android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
Access adservices ad id android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID
Access adservices attribution android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION
Access adservices topics android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_TOPICS
Advertising ID com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID
Control vibration android.permission.VIBRATE
Foreground service media playback android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK
Full network access android.permission.INTERNET
Google Play install referrer com.google.android.finsky.permission.BIND_GET_INSTALL_REFERRER_SERVICE
Internal broadcast protection (app-defined) com.thoughtbot.boston_com_news.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
Prevent the device from sleeping android.permission.WAKE_LOCK
Push messaging (app-defined) com.thoughtbot.boston_com_news.permission.C2D_MESSAGE
Read Google service settings com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES
Receive push notifications com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE
Run foreground services android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE
Show notifications android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS
View Wi-Fi connections android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE
View network connections android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE

Required hardware & features

Portrait screen android.hardware.screen.portrait

Boston.com APK: questions and answers

Is there a version of Boston.com for older Android phones?

The current version needs Android 6.0 or later. Version v5.12.06 is the newest listed build that installs on Android 5.0 and later. It is an old build: apps that rely on online services may no longer connect when they are this old. Get version v5.12.06 · All versions

Can I install this APK over the version I already have?

Yes, if your installed copy is older. It is signed like the Google Play version, so Android installs it as an update and keeps your data.

Is the Boston.com APK safe?

No one can promise that a file is safe, but some things can be checked. The source store rates this file Trusted. Its signature matches the Google Play version. It is signed with the same certificate as the 3 other versions checked. After downloading, check that the file's MD5 is 461a69844415dd30a8c9e4a902f86770.