How to detect Fake App
By MYBRANDBOOK
Quick Heal Security Lab reported Fake Apps with more than 50,000+ installations on Google Play Store on a blog post.These apps appear to be genuine as a PDF reader, PDF Downloader, PDF Scanner etc., but don’t have such functionality. The main purpose of these apps is to increase the download count of other applications and improve their ratings. If you have download one of these fake PDF reader apps, it will ask you to like or download another app, before you can use any of functions of the PDF app.
These applications prompt users to download and rate 5 star to sponsor apps in order to unlock this application. After installation of other application and rating, the user will be able to use the PDF reader after 24 hours. But after 24 hours, the same loop starts. It asks users to login with some created password and asks them to download the same application to unlock the application.
The application just loads a URL “https://shar*********.blogspot.com/p/index.html” and displays the above webpage. It does not have any permissions in manifest related to PDF reader or converter.
The basic intention of this application is to increase the download count and good rating of sponsored apps. The sponsored application also does the same thing. In order to use other applications, first user should rate and download sponsored app. This is the trick of the author to increase the download count to earn revenue in the easiest way.
Quick Heal warns that users should be careful while downloading such fake applications. The security firm has reported these apps to Google.
Quick Heal also says that before downloading any app, users should check the description, the app developer’s name and website. Going through reviews and ratings is also needed, though these can be faked easily.
Once again, users should avoid downloading apps from third-party app stores and stick with the Google Play Store. Users should also rely on mobile antivirus app, to prevent any malware from getting installed.
Recently, Google had revealed details on how it was cracking down on fake app reviews as well. In a blog post, Google said it had removed million of fake ratings from the Play Store and that has a team of engineers monitoring for suspicious activities on ratings, reviews.
How to stay safe from fake mobile apps
1. Check an app’s description before you download it.
2. Check the app developer’s name and their website. If the name sounds strange or odd, you have reasons to suspect it.
3. Go through the reviews and ratings of the app. But, note that these can be faked too.
4. Avoid downloading apps from third-party app stores.
5. Use a reliable mobile antivirus that can prevent fake and malicious apps from getting installed on your phone.
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