Every day in the Store Google Play, hundreds of new ones appear application. Unfortunately, there are also some that can be harmful – they steal data, bombard you with advertisements or silently send paid SMSes. Fortunately, you can defend yourself against them.
Some applications are almost identical
Cheaters in the store Google Play they can create an application that is confusingly similar to a popular program, sometimes differing only by one letter in the name. Therefore, before clicking “Install”, look carefully at the name and publisher. Also pay attention to the description – if it is written in broken Polish or looks like it was passed through a translator, it is better to skip it.
Suspicious permissions are a red flag
Before you install a new app, think about what it really needs to work. A simple puzzle game has no reason to ask for access to your contacts or location. Similarly, the notebook does not need the ability to send text messages. If an application requests permissions that seem redundant – it is better not to install it.
Google also tries to take care of our security
Few people know that in every phone with Android works Google Play Protect – a function that checks installed applications for threats. It's worth making sure it's turned on. You will find it in the Play Store settings, in the “Play Protect” tab.
Opinions also say a lot
Reviews from other users are a mine of knowledge. But be careful – don't fall for artificial admiration. If you see only five-star reviews with similar-sounding comments, something is wrong. Honest apps tend to have mixed reviews. Of course, most often you will find comments that “everything is OK”, but even the best applications have problems with operation for some users, who will describe it in the opinion. If the application's help section responds to them, it proves honesty.
What to avoid?
Be especially careful with applications that promise miracles: quick money or free access to paid content. Often, these are just baits hiding malware. Also remember that installing applications from outside the Play Store is quite risky. It's best not to do this unless you're really 100% sure it's safe.
If your phone starts behaving strangely, don't wait. Check recently installed applications and remove suspicious ones. Clear their data and cache in settings. If the problem persists, you may need to perform a factory reset.