In recent years, Android users have been confronted with several malicious scam apps, the rate of appearance of which seems to be increasing dramatically.
A few months ago, iOS users were faced with a similar, and previously unknown, scam experience, as apps were discovered that supposedly helped track fitness, but in reality used Apple's Touch ID feature to steal money.
According to ESET, we expect more and more sophisticated scams on both mobile platforms. For this reason, the company recommends that users follow the steps below to keep themselves, their devices, and their data safe.
Scam Official app stores have restrictions
Due to the huge volume of applications, a large part of the verification processes implemented by official stores are automated. This means that individual functions of the applications may not be noticed, so malicious applications are likely to infiltrate the store. Knowing this information, users should always be careful and check the reliability of the applications themselves.
Read the reviews and ratings carefully
Many times, there are positive reviews on scam apps, but if you look closely, they appear to be fake, for example they may be vague, or they may not make any sense. In this case, a good idea is to sort the reviews according to the filters “most helpful” or “most important.”.
Scam Patience pays off
The best time to tell if an app is a scam is before you download it. As hard as it may be to resist installing that new, brand-new app you spotted in the store, it's better to wait a few days or weeks for a decent number of reviews to accumulate.
Prefer developers you know and trust
Before installing an app, first research whether the developer who developed it has good reviews and whether they have developed other popular apps. It is generally a good practice, if you have identified reliable developers, to prefer downloading apps only from them.
Study the functionality of your device
While it’s not always possible to have a complete picture of what a device can do, it’s a good idea to at least know the basic details of its functionality. For example, your fingerprint data is never accessible to apps, so if an app asks you to scan your finger to proceed, you should be wary. Similarly, if your phone has features like a QR scanner or flashlight, you don’t need to install an app that offers exactly the same functionality.
Scam Search better
Has the developer developed other apps? Do they have good reviews? Do they have a professional-looking website with contact information? What results appear if you search the internet for the name of the app or developer plus the word “scam”? Can you find more information about in-app purchases? Such searches can lead you to important information about whether an app is a scam or not.
Request a refund and file a report
If you have already installed a scam app and have been a victim of money theft, ask the official store or the bank associated with the payment card if they can refund the lost amount. If the purchase was made in the form of a subscription, the process may be more complex, but it is definitely worth it. It is also important to report scam apps, and do not neglect to write your review, helping other users.
