How do I know what apps are safe?
The Mysterious App: A Short Cautionary Tale
One lazy Sunday afternoon while scrolling through social media, Sarah spotted an ad for a new photo editing app, 'PiksPerfect.'
Attracted by its impressive filters, she downloaded it without a second thought. Initially, the app worked perfectly, but before long, her phone began to slow down, and random ads started to pop up everywhere. Just days later, she received an urgent call from her bank about suspicious transactions amounting to thousands of dollars. Frantic, she opened her banking app to discover her savings almost drained. After freezing her account and reporting the fraud, Sarah was left bewildered and distressed.
A tech-savvy friend eventually uncovered the truth: the app was a fake, designed to steal her personal information, including sensitive bank details. It took months for Sarah to recover, but she became much more cautious, carefully researching mobile apps before installing them. Now, she shares her story to warn others, realising that a moment of carelessness can lead to serious consequences.
How Can I Tell if an App is Safe?
Mobile apps are incredibly convenient and powerful, helping us accomplish tasks at the touch of a button. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are capitalising on this by creating fake or malicious apps. If you download one of these apps, it can take over your phone and monitor your activities. Staying safe involves making sure the apps you install are both legitimate and secure.
To start, download apps only from official app stores where vendors review them, such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. This reduces the risk of downloading a malicious app.
Third-party app stores cannot always be trusted and may even be controlled by cybercriminals. However, even in trusted stores, caution is essential. Here are some additional steps to help ensure you're downloading legitimate, safe apps:
Check the Developer’s Name: If you’re looking for an app created by a particular company, confirm that the developer listed matches the company. Scammers often mimic popular apps, so verifying the developer can prevent downloading a fake. Visiting the official website to locate app store links is another way to ensure you’re getting the genuine app.
Read Reviews and Ratings: Legitimate apps generally have numerous positive reviews and high ratings. Be cautious of apps with few reviews, a large number of negative reviews, or overly enthusiastic reviews that seem fake.
Check the Download Numbers: Real apps tend to have a high number of downloads. An app with a low download count could indicate it’s unsafe.
Review Permissions: Before installing, look at the permissions requested. Safe apps usually only ask for what they need to function. Be wary of apps that request excessive permissions. For instance, does a simple photo editor really need access to your contacts or location?
Check for Regular Updates: Trustworthy apps are regularly updated to fix bugs and improve performance. The app’s update history should show recent, consistent updates.
Be Wary of New Apps: New apps without reviews or ratings should be approached with caution. If the app is safe, it will gain positive reviews over time.
Once you’ve downloaded an app, enable automatic updates. Errors and vulnerabilities in apps are frequently discovered, so having the latest version ensures these issues are addressed and that you have the latest security features. Additionally, delete apps from your phone if you no longer use them.
