In recent years, Android users have come across several malicious apps scam, the pace appearanceς των οποίων φαίνεται να αυξάνεται εντυπωσιακά.
Just a few months ago, iOS users found themselves in front of a similar scam experience that had previously been unknown to them so far as apps that supposedly assisted in fitness were identified but actually used Apple's Touch ID to steal money.
According to ESET, we expect more and more specialised 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 secure.
Scam The official ones stores applications have limitations
Because of the huge volume of applications, much of the control procedures applied by official stores are automated. This means that individual application functions may not be perceived, so malicious applications are likely to penetrate the store. Knowing this information, users always have to be careful and check for themselves the reliability of their applications.
Read the reviews carefully and ratings
Many times, there are positive reviews on scam applications, but if they are studied more closely, they seem to be false, for example they may be unclear, or make no sense. In this case, a good idea is to sort the reviews according to the "most useful" or "most important" filters.
Scam Patience rewards
The best time to find out if an application is scam is in the time before it is downloaded. However difficult it is to resist installation of the new, brand-new app you've found in the store, it's better to wait a few days or weeks to complete a good number of ratings.
Choose a developer that you know and trust
Before you begin installing an app, first investigate whether the developer who has developed it has good reviews as well, and whether it has developed other popular apps. Generally, it's a good practice if you've found a trusted developer, prefer to download applications only from them.
Study the functionality of your device
Although it is not possible to always have a full picture about what a device can do, it would be good to know at least 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. Likewise, if your phone has features like a QR scanner or a flashlight, you don't need to install an app that offers the exact same functionality.
Scam Look for better
Have the developers developed other applications? Do they have good reviews? They have webσελίδα that looks professional with contact information? What results come up if you search the web for the name of the app or developer along with 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 report
If you have already installed a scam app, and you have been a victim of money theft, ask the official store or the bank connected to the payment card if they can refund you the lost amount. If the purchase was made in the form of a subscription, the process can be more complex, but it is definitely worth it. It is also important to report scam apps, and don't neglect to write them down review you, helping other users as well.