How to Spot Fake Android Apps

You want to be safe when it comes to Android apps and not waste your money on things you wouldn’t like? Here are ways to spot fake android apps.

The fact that an app is in the Google Play Store does not mean it's a legitimate app. Indeed, Google permanently removes fraudulent applications from the Android market, such as fake antivirus, browsers and games.

In addition to Google Play and other app markets, many other fake apps can access your Android device. The crooks will try all the necessary means to deceive you in installing a fake application.

Criminals use e-mail and SMS messages from their bank, credit card company or other brands to encourage people to download apps that could compromise their data. Sometimes, fake apps will be presented as security updates and clicking on the links may result in the theft of your information.

According to community.norton.com, if you're an Android user and you receive an unexpected SMS, a strange alert or notification, or unusual requests for what your bank or other family brand might look like, be careful. Criminals may be trying to scam you.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Unsolicited material, e-mails or sudden notifications that appear to come from a bank, retailer or other known institution may not always be what they appear to be. Be careful with any links delivered and always read the message first. Instead of using the link provided in the message, go directly to the site in question and log in to your account as you normally would. If the message seems particularly disturbing to you, call the company directly to verify the information before acting online.

In addition, simply download Android apps from official sources, such as the Google Play Store. Before downloading an application, investigate. Check how many times the application has been downloaded. An extremely popular application is a telling sign of a good application. Read the app reviews, watch the developer and do a search online. There may be more information from other users who have already been deceived. Cybercriminals may try to cheat you with fake, often short, generic reviews, so be sure to check out other apps created by the developer. The more applications the developer has created, the greater the chances that the developer will become the real business.

Security notifications or software updates can be a little harder to decipher. Often, users receive a message to install an urgent security update. Your best action in this scenario would be to search online for information about this update. If there are multiple online discussions on this specific security update, this can confirm whether it is genuine.

There are also clear visual things that stand out if you want to identify fake Android apps. Misspellings, bad logos and unbalanced or poorly formatted interfaces are indications that the application may be false.

Finally, if you want to be completely covered, there are options to protect your device.

Always remember to think before you click. Although there may be a sense of urgency for a click and an installation, it is best to take the time and remember all the signs that an application may be wrong.

An easy step of protection that everyone should take is to visit your Android setup and make sure you do not allow third-party application downloads from unreliable sites.

Norton Mobile Security Advisor App for Google Play Store, included in Norton Mobile Security, provides comprehensive and proactive protection against threats in the current mobile Internet landscape. The Advisor application allows users to review the behavior of an application before downloading it to the device. App Advisor scans Google Play Store apps for privacy-invasive features, annoying / intrusive behavior, such as pop-up ads or excessive battery usage, and unnecessary use of data. It will also detect if an application contains malware or is malicious in nature.