Android users: Check these 3 things before you download an app

If recent reports from cybersecurity experts are anything to go by, it would seem that hackers are constantly finding ways to outwit Google’s security system around its Play Store. In recent months, users have been warned to delete numerous apps that had embedded in them malware that could steal their personal and banking information, or gain remote access to their devices.

But even as Google works to fortify the Play Store, there are certain things you can do to ensure that the app you are about to download is safe. In this article published in The Sun, Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN, shares three tips.

Number of downloads

The next time you want to download an app in the Google Play Store, you should check to see how many times it has been downloaded. This is more so important for apps that are relatively new. According to Warmenhoven,

There have been cases where the download figures have been manipulated by fraudsters so you should definitely smell a rat if an app is claiming millions of downloads yet has only been released for a few days.

What do reviews say?

Just as you would a new restaurant or online shop, it is highly recommended that you check what people who have downloaded the app are saying about it. Some users don’t mince words when it comes to pointing out the flaws in an app.

What permissions does it have?

Before any developers can have their apps in Google Play Store, they have to provide detailed descriptions of device features they might need access to. If there are any odd permissions it needs, that could be a bad sign. Warmenhoven explains:

Be wary if an app asks for permissions it doesn’t need. No flashlight app needs to know your location.

Read more:

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⋙ Android: Notorious malware that steals login info sneaks back on devices

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