How to Identify Fake Apps in the Google Play Store

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What is the first thing we do whenever we get our hands on a shiny new phone? No points for guessing! We download apps – all kinds of them; games, messaging, wallpapers, media streaming, utility and so on. But hold on! Are we careful about what we let inside our phones? Sadly, most of us aren’t. The Google Play Store has always been in the news for being infested with fake and malicious apps. And that is why, we should keep our eyes peeled for every app that we install on our phone to ensure that it does not land us on the hunting ground of hackers and scammers. So, here are some really simply tips on how to identify fake apps in the Google Play Store. Jot them down, if you will.
Identifying fake Android apps

1. Do a little research about the developer of the app you plan to install. The developer’s name is placed right below the app. Google the name and see what you get. A genuine developer is most likely to have a website and other valid and verifiable details on the Internet.

Identify Fake Apps in the Google Play Store

2. Check out the developer’s profile too. Those with tags “Editor’s Choice” or “Top Developer” are least likely to be fishy.

Identify Fake Android Apps
 

Identify Fake Android Mobile Apps

3. Very important – read all app permissions carefully. A bit of common sense is what can help you tell the right from the wrong. The rule of thumb to remember here is, the permissions asked by an app must comply with its functions/features. For instance, if Skype app requires your permission to access SMS, call logs, media files, etc., then that’s alright, because these are required for obvious reasons. On the other hand, if a gaming app or a flash light app requires similar permissions, stay away – that’s a bad app!

4. Not all apps in the play store are “apps” but they are just mobile websites. Noticing this is also an important step to identify fake apps in the Google Play Store. And if you come across any such apps, especially those that are crowded with ads, then stay away. Genuine developers develop “apps” that can be useful to you and not mobile websites to scam you into clicking on ads or other links.

5. Noticing user ratings and reading their reviews also helps. In most cases, if an app is fake or malicious, it is likely that you will come across reviews that say so.

6. Another cool way to find out if an app is not what it seems to be, is to simple ask the Internet. Google “Is (app name) safe to install”. If the app has a bad reputation, it will show up in the search results.

Google Play might contain risky apps, but it is way safer than unofficial and third party app stores. You might be lured into discounts and other ‘benefits’ for downloading apps from such sources, but know that, you are risking your privacy and security by doing so. If truth be told, hackers and scammers stay one step ahead of us; tirelessly webbing plans to trick us. There are times, when it is just impossible for normal users to identify fake or malicious apps. And how can they? These apps look exactly like the real ones. And it is in these situations, where we might just let our mobile phone be controlled by a rogue app controlled by a hacker sitting in some dingy corner of the world. A simple countermeasure to this sort of problem is a mobile security app. With constant scan and real-time updates, this app can block fake and malicious apps from getting installed on your device. And it can also block infections spread via compromised websites.

So, the next time you come across an interesting app, do consider using the tips discussed above, and have a reliable Android mobile security software installed on your phone.

If you think you should share the above tips on how to identify fake apps in the Google Play Store with your friends and acquaintances, do share this post and spread the word. Stay safe!

Rajiv Singha

Rajiv Singha


15 Comments

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  1. Avatar PILL DIPENMarch 5, 2016 at 7:27 AM

    i like quick heal services. keep it up. best wishes.

    Reply
  2. Very good

    Reply
  3. Avatar ALSTON ALBERTMarch 5, 2016 at 5:56 PM

    Thanks for your Valuable information

    Reply
  4. nice work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  5. Avatar SudarshanMarch 6, 2016 at 1:58 PM

    Thanks Rajib Singha! Now i will always make sure that the app i am downloading is safe or not.

    Reply
  6. Avatar Neera SinhaMarch 6, 2016 at 6:36 PM

    Very useful for smart phone users.

    Reply
  7. sir quikal useng not fine

    Reply
  8. thanks. sir

    Reply
  9. Avatar JASBIR SINGHApril 13, 2016 at 9:38 PM

    All time Alerts ur app please…

    Reply
  10. Thanks a lot we will see next time while downloading apps

    Reply
  11. very good message for the people i like it very much keep it up quick heal my best wishes are with them

    Reply
  12. Avatar MURALI KRISHNAOctober 29, 2016 at 10:53 AM

    Sir, Your tips are very useful. In my android phone website called “baidu” in chinese language comes and sits on the screen. How to remove it from my phone ?

    Reply
  13. sir can u suggest an app that points out threatening apps and at the same time protecting other apps. and my phone keeps on showing messages that gou, caisco, fana, lanjun and some weird names apps installions are blocked. while also showing a repeatetive message that tgis app is fake especially while playing an online game called mobile legends.

    Reply