diff --git a/app/build.gradle b/app/build.gradle
index 645b1c5..bc49015 100644
--- a/app/build.gradle
+++ b/app/build.gradle
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'com.android.support:recyclerview-v7:28.0.0'
     implementation 'com.squareup.retrofit2:retrofit:2.4.0'
     implementation 'com.squareup.retrofit2:converter-gson:2.4.0'
+    implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-auth:16.0.1'
     testImplementation 'junit:junit:4.12'
     androidTestImplementation 'com.android.support.test:runner:1.0.2'
     androidTestImplementation 'com.android.support.test.espresso:espresso-core:3.0.2'
diff --git a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 8ba2cdc..a54b321 100644
--- a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
         android:icon="@drawable/launcher"
         android:label="@string/app_name"
         android:supportsRtl="true"
+        android:name=".MyApplication"
         android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
         <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
             <intent-filter>
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/spitslide/ukpetitions/MyApplication.java b/app/src/main/java/com/spitslide/ukpetitions/MyApplication.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05c5012
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/spitslide/ukpetitions/MyApplication.java
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package com.spitslide.ukpetitions;
+
+
+import android.app.Application;
+
+import com.google.android.gms.common.GooglePlayServicesNotAvailableException;
+import com.google.android.gms.common.GooglePlayServicesRepairableException;
+import com.google.android.gms.security.ProviderInstaller;
+
+import java.security.KeyManagementException;
+import java.security.NoSuchAlgorithmException;
+
+import javax.net.ssl.SSLContext;
+
+public class MyApplication extends Application {
+    @Override
+    public void onCreate() {
+        super.onCreate();
+
+        // needed for pre-Lollipop devices
+        // https://stackoverflow.com/a/51285550/9702500
+        try {
+            ProviderInstaller.installIfNeeded(getApplicationContext());
+            SSLContext sslContext;
+            sslContext = SSLContext.getInstance("TLSv1.2");
+            sslContext.init(null, null, null);
+            sslContext.createSSLEngine();
+        } catch (GooglePlayServicesRepairableException | GooglePlayServicesNotAvailableException
+                | NoSuchAlgorithmException | KeyManagementException e) {
+            e.printStackTrace();
+        }
+    }
+}