Fake app download11/14/2022 ![]() ![]() For many usage purposes, such as shopping and checking movie times, the company's app and corresponding website offer a similar user experience. If worrying about spotting fake apps is too stressful, the best strategy might be to avoid downloading any extraneous apps at all. Check to make sure any app you install only has the permissions it absolutely needs to function, and turn off any permissions it shouldn't need. Uninstall the app, and contact the company directly to see if you downloaded the right one.įake apps are sometimes malware in disguise, and a game could be uploading your contacts and transmitting your location in the background. For example, you might notice the colors are different from the website or ads, the logo looks incorrect, or promised features are missing. If the branding and user experience seem off, then it's time to do some research to determine if the app is a fake. In some cases, an application just doesn't feel right when you start using it. Read the update notes in the description to see whether updates were made to respond to customer complaints, add features, or fix bugs, and look for information on future planned updates. That is often not the case with fakes.Īdditionally, very new apps should be downloaded with caution, whereas an application with a long history of updates is more likely to be authentic. Real companies usually proofread descriptions carefully and publish only clear, professional screenshots. You may be able to sniff out fake apps just by diligently reading descriptions and viewing the images. These are markers that strongly indicate authentic apps. Check to see if the review history includes detailed customer experiences from several update cycles back.Īpp stores often include a record of whether an app is recommended or if the publisher is trusted by the store administrators. An app is unlikely to have numerous detailed, enthusiastic positive reviews throughout the history of the app's development. Fake apps may have a large proportion of positive reviews because these can be purchased on the Dark Web. Positive reviews can reveal almost as much as negative reviews. If a user mentions customer support from the publisher is nonexistent, this is another huge red flag for a fake app. Pay especially close attention to remarks related to the app requesting suspicious permissions, making unauthorized charges to a mobile wallet, making unauthorized changes to settings, or acting strangely. ![]() Negative reviews may reveal issues previous users experienced with the app. If an application you want doesn't have an official website, as could be the case with apps made by independent developers, read all the reviews looking for positive and negative comments. If you feel certain a company has an app but you can't find the link, contact the company directly to ask about download information and location. ![]() Similarly, some companies do not have official apps available in certain regions, so scammers make copycat apps to trick users in those countries. Some companies don't have associated apps, which means any apps associated with them in the app store are fakes designed to steal your payment card information, contacts, and other private data. This also tells you which app publisher in the store is the reliable source for similar apps from the same company.īe cautious about downloading any app from the store if you can't find a link for it on the company's official website. One way to feel confident about downloading an authentic app is to visit the creator's official website to find the direct link to the application in the app store. ![]() While app stores struggle to identify and eliminate fake apps, you can take a few steps of your own to ensure you only download the real deal. Copycats make and sell their own versions of popular apps at an alarmingly high rate. Some fake apps copy everything from the original, right down to the user interface and product selection. Mobile app stores provide countless options for device users, but malware that looks like legitimate applications could be among the dizzying array. ![]()
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