Google Play Shop is the best area for downloading Android applications, but some unscrupulous developers are sleeping and seeing to put on the user's malicious software and steal personal data. Today we will tell how to check whether to download the application on the Android smartphone.
Application stores, such as Google Play Store, are constantly working on improving security. However, from time to time, malicious software still penetrates users' smartphones. That is why it is important to know how to check the application correctly and make sure it is safe for download.
Reviews of Appendix
Little to look at the rating of applications - Studies show that more than 90% People are based on their decisions on the ranking, but some developers abuse this confidence and add fake assessments for their software.
Thus, the review is one of the most important things to be checked when downloading a new application. However, five-star messages are often displayed on the fore. Therefore, you have to choose some filters to see the complaints of people.
If more than one or two people warn that the application is malicious or contains such elements, it is worth paying attention to it. Even if the comments are exaggerated (something like "after loading, my phone broke"), it is better to be restrained than then regret.
If the application has enough good reviews, check how similar they are. Typically, fake reviews are short comments with general allegations. For example: "The best app! I really like it. "
Of course, some people really leave such reviews, and we are just talking about what it is important to pay attention to their number. If there are many short, similar reviews, then they may have been copied or created by a bot.
Finally, fraudsters are not highlighted by a good attitude towards their customers. If the developer responds to comments, this is a sign that the application works well.
Description of the application
Problems with spelling and grammar in the description is important, however Do not always indicate that the application is unsafe. In most cases, this means that the author's letters skills are not as high as the skills of programming!
But here's the keywords - it is the thing that is worth paying attention to.
An honest developer inserts keywords in the offer so that it looks natural. If only clictant words are listed in the text (something like the "best game" and the like), and not a description of a particular product, then this is a bad sign.
Enthusiastic descriptions should also beware. Promises that the developer will solve any problems, and the application will constantly work flawlessly, rarely come true.
The reliable application lists specific functions and explains how to squeeze the maximum. Scammers simply use generalizations.
If the application has microtransactions or paid subscriptions, then further information should be in the description. A similar situation with applications that do not provide details about the functionality, they can hide something.
Number of downloads
Here you need to start from the release date. If the application you never heard about, no year, but it already has millions of downloads, then this is a bad sign. Most likely, the numbers were artificially overestimated. The attackers make it using bots or fake accounts for multiple loading of their application.
However, it is difficult to say which number of downloads can be considered too large. But we can use the average values to set a certain starting point. Thus, a new application from an unknown developer is quite difficult to achieve at least 500 downloads by the end of the first month.
Most new applications do not develop so quickly because no one loads them immediately after the release. That is why the high speed of downloading the product from unknown developers causes such a suspicion.
In very rare cases, the number of downloads can reach several tens of thousands per month. If this happens, the application really makes a breakthrough, which means that various large blogs will probably say about it.
Annex, the number of loading of which increased gradually for several years, may be safer.
List of permits
All applications request certain permissions (Location, microphone, etc.). If you think that some of them do not make sense, then be careful. You can check the list of permissions in the Google Play Store:
- Go to the Application page, click on the "On this application" button, then select the "Learn more" parameter, where you will see the "Permissions" menu. There you can see what the application will have access.
Some permissions are really suspicious, understand this easy: for example, a microphone listening request will be alarming in the game application In solitaire, however, it makes sense in the video editor.
Be especially careful with the applications that request the so-called "dangerous permissions" - permissions that allow the application to read, receive or record confidential information. This includes your location, saved files, phone calls, text messages, etc.
The intruders make a profit by selling this information or demanding a redemption for it. If the application receives your confidential data, it will be very difficult to restore them (read "it is impossible"). Therefore, it is better not to risk once again.
Developer Web Page
You can go to the developer's webpage by clicking By the corresponding icon in the Play Store. There is one more option - to enter the following line in the Google search engine: "[developer name] application."
In addition, we recommend checking the news section. Perhaps the developer got into some scandals lately?
Viewing other developer applications can also help. If you see a huge amount of products, but a ridiculously small number of downloads is a bad sign. It is also worth alerting when the only difference between applications is the name or color of the icons.
Well, finally, honest developers do not create clones of other, more popular applications.
Download process
Some applications hide malware and spam In user agreements. Such developers know that most people do not think they will click on the "Accept" button and go to the installation. Thus, users will agree to collect data, their use, as well as pop-up windows and much more.
If it suggests to agree on the use of suspicious applications, it is recommended to read them.
Applications requiring to agree to many additional things may try to steal the data.
Be careful
Your personal data is one of the most valuable things, so you have to make a lot of effort to protect your privacy as much as possible. If you want to download the application, but doubt its security, we recommend that you consider all the above steps - it will definitely help.
It is worth it, however, remember that applications in the Play Store are not the only way to access your data. That is why it is important to be as cautious as possible.
