Don’t Fall For It: Identifying and Avoiding Fake Apps

In this era, our smartphones have become like limbs to us. We depend on them for tasks like managing finances, making purchases, connecting with others, and handling work responsibilities. However, amidst our reliance on apps to simplify our activities, a concerning menace looms in the background: applications. These deceptive programs masquerade as ones and are actually infused with harmful code intended to cause damage. Let's delve into the realm of apps, comprehend their characteristics, and equip ourselves with the understanding needed to steer clear of them.

What Is a Fake App?

Just like physical items that people often copy, a fake app looks and works the same as a real app. These fakes copy well-known apps, like banking apps or popular games, that lots of people use. They might seem the same, but they're packed with bad intentions and malicious code. So why do they exist? Their goal is to fool users into downloading them. Once that happens, they try to get hold of important info like usernames, passwords, and even bank details.

These fake apps range from simple pranks to tools that can steal your identity. You'll find them in third-party app stores where they don't check apps as official platforms like the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store do.

Why Do People Fake Apps?

Why would anyone go through the trouble of creating a fake app? The reasons are varied and often nefarious:

Stealing Data

Many fake apps have a goal of stealing data. They can employ highly sophisticated methods to achieve their objectives. These apps often masquerade as applications, sometimes even replicating the look and functionality of apps. Once you install them they may request permissions that allow them to access information stored on your device. This information could encompass financial data, contact lists, and login credentials for accounts. By leveraging these permissions, fake apps can discreetly steal data and send your data to individuals without your awareness.

Spreading Malicious Code

Spreading harmful code serves as a major reason for the development of fake apps. These sneaky copycat applications aim to infect your device with different types of malicious software, like viruses, spyware, ransomware, and trojans – after all, that’s the malicious app meaning at the very core. Once these programs are installed, they can engage in various nefarious activities such as monitoring your keystrokes, capturing screenshots, recording audio or video, and even remotely controlling your device. Such malicious actions could result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruptions in your device's regular functions, and exploitation of its resources for illicit purposes like launching attacks on other systems.

The impact of spreading harmful code doesn't just end with the initial infection. These nasty fake apps have the ability to spread malware to other linked mobile devices (and other devices, too), turning your compromised device into a gateway for further cyber assaults, basically, a hotspot for all the nasty things. This not only affects your personal network but also extends to any networks you connect with. Be it workplace networks or public ones. The uncontrollable spread of malware can lead to massive data breaches, exposure of confidential information, and significant financial harm to individuals and organizations alike. Furthermore, some malware is crafted to take advantage of system vulnerabilities that are challenging to detect and eliminate. This results in prolonged periods of susceptibility and an increased risk of subsequent attacks.

The widespread impact of distributing harmful code can result in serious outcomes, highlighting the need for constant vigilance and strong security measures to defend against counterfeit applications. 

Generating Revenue

Pesky fake apps are also made for the simple goal of generating revenue, and in 99% of cases, it is done through fraudulent means. One well-known and used method is ad fraud. In these fake app cases, the apps are crafted to display a ridiculous amount of ads or to even click on various ads without your knowledge, thus generating revenue for the fake app creators. These ads can be pretty annoying, popping up frequently and messing up your user experience. In more sophisticated cases, the fake fake app could be a background process that loads and clicks on ads with no end in sight, generating significant cash for fraudsters. Although visually not as disruptive, these activities overload device resources, leading to negative effects on battery life and data usage, which, in turn, leads to worsened performance of the said device.

Ad fraud is not the only method that fake apps use to generate revenue. Certain fake apps choose to go for a fully direct approach by tricking you into making useless in-app purchases or starting paid subscriptions to services that do not even exist or have no real value whatsoever. For example, a fake app might tell you that if you make a purchase, you will unlock the premium features of the app and even enjoy an ad-free experience. However, once the hard-earned money leaves your account, the promises just fade away and never become true. In even worse cases, fake apps can automatically capture your payment information during this sham transaction process, which can then be used for unauthorized purchases of whatever the shady developer desires or sold on the dark web (and certain surface web, let’s be real here) forums and dedicated pages.

To top it all off, some fake apps might nag you to download other malicious fake apps under the facade of non-existent promotions and shady special offers. This creates a vicious, never-ending cycle of lies and terrible financial exploitation. With that in mind, you should note the importance of vigilance and caution when downloading and using various apps since the financial motive behind fake apps can lead to unimaginable monetary losses or, in the very best (we are using the word “best” very liberally here) case, just annoyance and frustration while using your device.

Inappropriate Content

Fake apps can also be devilishly nasty by exposing you to god-awful inappropriate content. This can range from explicit material that could cause you to simply go “ew”, to content that you wish you could unsee, such as violent images, over-the-top offensive content, and things that children should never ever see. The developers behind such fake apps often bypass app store guidelines and parental controls by masquerading a legitimate use (e.g., powerful image editing software to make your pictures look zesty) until after the app has been installed. It’s sort of like a classic bait-and-switch scheme but way more deranged. To illustrate how it looks in real life, let’s assume that you are a parent and you see this seemingly harmless game or rad educational tool for your kid only to find out that all the app does is spit out stomach-turning images just for the sake of it. Needless to say, stuff like this can have serious consequences for the emotional and psychological well-being of youngsters who encounter such material after being tricked.

Gaining Unauthorized Access

Another destructive motive behind fake apps is their intent to gain access to your device and data on it. Once you install such a fake app, it can exploit permission requests to access critical functions and sensitive data. Take a calculator app that requests access to your camera, microphone, contacts, location, health data, and all other sensitive things. Why on earth would a simple calculator need all that info? By granting these permissions, the fake app can now monitor your activities, eavesdrop on your private conversations, and track where you are going without your knowledge. It’s clear that this unauthorized access can lead to privacy violations since the fake app collects and sends data to the attackers, who can then exploit it for malicious purposes.

Besides individual privacy breaches that unauthorized access to your device can cause, they can also serve as a launchpad for further attacks, such as sending realistic phishing messages to your contact or installing even more malicious apps. Besides, attacks can also access and manipulate sensitive data, such as emails, documents, and financial information, that could potentially lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and even blackmail.

This notion is even worse when you think about corporate environments. In this case, the one and only compromised device can provide backdoor access to the whole company’s network, opening the opportunity for cybercriminals to export valuable business data, interrupt operations, and cause unrecoverable financial damage. This ability of fake apps further proves the importance of taking a hard, long look at the permissions that the app is asking for and downloading apps themselves from trusted sources (such as official app stores.)

How to Identify Fake Apps?

So, how do we identify fake apps? Here are some telltale signs:

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• Check the App Name: Fake apps often have names that are very similar to popular apps but with slight variations. For instance, a fake app might be called "Facebok" instead of "Facebook."
• Review the Developer: Always check the developer's name. A legitimate company will have consistent branding across all their apps. If the developer's name looks suspicious, avoid the app.
• Read Reviews: Fake reviews are common in fraudulent apps. Look for reviews that seem too good to be true or repetitive reviews that might indicate they're written by bots.
• Examine the App Description: Typos, grammatical errors, and poorly written descriptions are red flags. Legitimate apps usually have professionally written descriptions.
• Check the Number of Downloads: While not a definitive indicator, a popular app will generally have a high number of downloads and ratings. A low number of downloads for an app claiming to be very popular should raise suspicion.
• Permissions Requested: Be wary of apps that request excessive permissions. A calculator app, for example, shouldn't need access to your contacts or location, as noted previously.

How to Check if an App Is Fake?

Wondering how to check if an app is fake? Follow these steps:

Cross-check with Official Sources

One of the most essential things you can do to determine if the app you think of downloading is genuine is to cross-check with official sources. Though it may sound complicated and remind you of CSI or other over-the-top investigative TV series, it’s not actually difficult. The process involves visiting the app's official website (if it has one) or going to the app’s developer's website to see if the app is mentioned there. If that is the case, you should find direct download links there (or links to app stores) and detailed descriptions of the app itself. This also answers the question of how to know if a company is fake. Another thing to try out is to look for customer support contacts and official social media profiles that are linked on the company's website – this can be a useful tool for verification. 

Finally, legitimate companies have an official presence on the major app stores such as Google Play or the Apple App Store. If you have doubts, compare the app details that are provided on the official website with the details that appear in the app store. In case the doubtful app is not mentioned or the details don’t really match, it is a red flag screaming that the app is fake.

If you still need more verification, check trusted tech review sites and tech forums where users discuss apps that they use. These websites can provide insights into whether or not the app is the real deal or if it’s a fake one.

Use Antivirus Software

Antivirus programs are built to protect you: they are designed to detect and block all types of malicious software, and that includes fake apps that are filled with harmful code. Antivirus apps scan your device, looking for suspicious and out-of-the-ordinary activity, including attempts of unauthorized access, weird data transmissions, and the presence of already-known malware signatures and hashes. Most antivirus software also does real-time protection and warns you about the possible dangers before you download and install potentially harmful apps. In some cases, an antivirus program can also do app reputation checks that analyze if apps are genuine based on user reviews and developer history.

Research Online

Engaging in online research is an easy yet effective way to check if it’s a fake app or not. Before pressing that download button, take a detour to your web browser and search the app’s name along with keywords like “fake,” “scam,” and “review.” This will provide you with any reports or user talks regarding any issues with the app at hand. Also, check tech-focused websites and forums where users and experts alike provide warnings regarding fake apps. Some of them may even have a comprehensive fake apps list.

Social media sites can also be useful for checking real-time feedback and red flags about possibly fake apps. Going through the news and official announcements about the app and its developer can also be useful. After all, hacks do happen and a reputable developer could be overtaken by malicious actors, spewing out infected versions of the app that you need. For example, if there are weird and out-of-character changes in the app’s branding and overall functionality, it could mean that the app at hand is not what it used to be and could be a newly baked fake app.

Check for Updates

More often than not, legit apps get regular updates that fix bugs, enhance security features, and add some extra functionality. When checking out an app, visit the app store page and look at the update history. Legitimate applications should have a rather consistent and recent stream of updates with changelogs that explain what was added, improved, changed, etc. On the other hand, fake apps are released and left alone after their initial release, having just a few updates or even none at all. If the app you’re looking at boasts about how popular and widely used it is, yet it hasn’t been updated in months, you should doubt the legitimacy of it. As fake apps are created for quick exploitation rather than consistent user support, they do not receive many updates, if any at all.

Other Tips for Protection Against Fake Apps

To protect yourself from falling victim to a fake app, consider these additional tips:

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• Stick to Official App Stores: Download apps only from official stores like Google Play or the Apple App Store, where apps undergo security checks.
• Read Permissions Carefully: Before installing an app, read the permissions it requests and question why it needs them.
• Avoid Unsolicited Messages: Be wary of links or app download prompts from unsolicited messages or emails. These could be phishing attempts.
• Use Two-Factor Authentication: For sensitive accounts, enable two-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security.
• Use a VPN: In case you fall for a fake app, using a reputable VPN can provide some protection. The data that the app collects and sends to hackers will be unusable since it will be encrypted.
• Keep Your Device Updated: Regular updates to your device’s operating system can help protect against vulnerabilities that fake apps might exploit.

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All in all, in today's world, with mobile apps playing a significant role in our daily lives, it is important to be cautious about the apps we choose to install. Fake apps pose a serious risk beyond just being bothersome—they can jeopardize your privacy and security. By learning how to spot fake apps and implementing measures to safeguard yourself, you can make the most of mobile technology while safeguarding against potential fraud.