Malware is any code that puts a user, a user’s data or a user’s device at risk. There are a variety of categories that fake apps fall into depending on the malicious intent a cybercriminal has when creating them. From there, they simply upload their fake app to the app store. The process of creating and distributing fake apps is unfortunately easy to carry out-a cybercriminal can simply register themselves as a developer on any app store, download a legitimate application and rewrite it to include malicious code. Alarmingly, there are thousands of fake apps available across different app stores- FraudWatch International found that the number of malicious apps doubled in the first quarter of 2020 alone.
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Regardless of how a cybercriminal uses a fake app to exploit you, the result always involves damage to your data privacy.
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Fake apps might aggressively display advertisements as a way to rake in ad revenue, install malware on your device or steal your account credentials to be used elsewhere online without your permission. Once a fake app is downloaded to your phone, it can do a lot of harm.
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To understand the dangers of fake apps and how to better protect your mobile data security, read on. The creation of fake apps has become a new threat plaguing consumers everywhere, with cybercriminals increasingly honing in on mobile platforms as their preferred target of attack. Fake apps exploit this to gain access to your personal information, often without your knowledge. When you install a third-party app, it requests permission to access your data. The look and function of fake apps are structured to mimic a legitimate app in order to trick users into downloading them.
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But as the number of smartphone users continues to climb, so is the prevalence of cybercriminals targeting mobile phones-particularly in the form of fake apps.įake apps are created by cybercriminals and contain malicious code designed to steal your data. The increasing options for different apps, software and technologies make our phones important tools in navigating the modern world. Billions of smartphone users enjoy the convenience and entertainment that today’s mobile technology offers.