Is This Android App Safe? How to Check for Potential Risks
Protecting Yourself from Malicious Android Apps
It's true that malicious applications exist within the Android ecosystem – a point frequently emphasized by companies like Apple and Microsoft, as well as various media outlets.
However, by implementing a few fundamental safety measures, users can significantly reduce their risk of encountering these potentially harmful apps.
How Google Safeguards the Play Store
Unlike Apple’s approach of manual app approval, Google employs automated scanning processes to detect malware within the Google Play Store.
These scans are a crucial first line of defense against problematic applications.
Utilizing Available Information
Beyond Google’s automated checks, several other factors can help determine an app’s safety.
- Permissions: Carefully review the permissions an app requests.
- Reviews: Pay attention to user reviews and ratings.
- Reputation: Investigate the developer’s reputation.
Analyzing these elements provides valuable insights into an app’s potential risks.
A thorough assessment of these factors empowers users to make informed decisions and avoid downloading potentially dangerous software.
Apps Outside the Google Play Store
Related: Is Antivirus Software Necessary for Your Android Device?
The Android operating system permits the installation of applications from sources other than the Google Play Store through a process known as sideloading. This expanded flexibility provides users with greater options – such as utilizing the Amazon App Store – but simultaneously introduces heightened security concerns. Similar to systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux, software acquisition isn't limited to a single official source.
Consequently, malicious applications can be created and disseminated across the internet. As previously discussed in our analysis of the value of Android antivirus applications, the majority of harmful Android apps originate from locations outside the Google Play Store. Downloading illegally copied apps from untrustworthy websites carries an inherent risk of malware infection.
While Google doesn't pre-approve applications before their appearance in the Play Store, automated malware scans are routinely conducted. Should an app initially available on the Play Store be subsequently identified as malicious, it can be remotely uninstalled from your device. Threat actors frequently attempt to bypass this safeguard by distributing harmful apps outside the official store.
Android now incorporates a feature to scan apps for malware during installation from external sources, though, like all antivirus solutions, it isn't foolproof. The absence of an app from the Play Store should be considered a potential warning. Installation should only proceed if a compelling reason exists.
If you choose to install an app from outside the Play Store, ensure you permit your device to scan it for malware when prompted. Maintaining the "Verify apps" setting enabled allows Android to regularly check for potentially harmful applications. Heed any warnings issued by Android and promptly uninstall the flagged app.
Questionable Permission Requests in Apps
Certain applications often solicit an excessive number of permissions. As an illustration, a basic flashlight app requesting access to your contacts, location data, and internet connectivity should raise concerns. Such an app could potentially transmit your address book details alongside your location to servers belonging to advertising networks.
The potential for abuse exists if an application requests the capability to send SMS messages when this functionality isn't essential. It might attempt to dispatch messages to premium-rate numbers, resulting in unexpected charges on your mobile account.
Permissions represent a significant challenge within the Android environment. Apps frequently request more access than necessary, and there isn't a straightforward method to deny these requests without rooting your device – a feature available on Apple’s iOS.
The Underlying Reasons for Excessive Permissions
It’s not uncommon to encounter apps that demand numerous permissions. Often, this is because the application is indeed utilizing your phone number, contacts, and location to feed data to advertising networks for tracking and targeted advertising purposes.
Careful attention to permissions is crucial during app installation. If an app you have limited trust in requires an extensive list of permissions, consider it a warning sign of potential misuse.
Applications can request additional permissions during updates. However, you are required to explicitly approve these updates before they are applied.
- Always review the requested permissions before installing an app.
- Be wary of apps requesting permissions unrelated to their core functionality.
- Pay attention to permission requests during app updates.
Related: App Permissions are also present in iOS, and are often considered more robust than those found in Android.
Assessments, User Feedback, and Developer Standing
Related: Foundational Computer Security: Safeguarding Against Viruses, Hacking Attempts, and Data Theft
Similar to evaluating desktop software, determining an application’s reliability is crucial before granting it access to your device. Within the Android ecosystem, this involves examining the installation count and scrutinizing user reviews. An application with a limited number of installs – say, only fifty – coupled with unfavorable feedback, should likely be avoided as it could potentially be harmful.
Conversely, an app boasting a rating of four to five stars and exceeding one million installations is generally considered more dependable. However, it’s important to note that this isn’t a definitive indicator, as deceptive applications can sometimes garner positive reviews and a large user base.
The standing of the application’s creator is also a significant factor. Software originating from a reputable company like Google is typically safer than that from an unknown developer. An application from a familiar organization – such as your financial institution – is likely more trustworthy than one from an unfamiliar source.
The permissions requested by the app are also vital to consider. If a simple application requires no permissions, it presents minimal risk, as it lacks the capability to perform malicious actions. However, if a seemingly innocuous app demands access to your contacts, accounts, location data, text messages, or other sensitive information, heightened scrutiny is warranted.
As with all software, absolute certainty regarding an application’s safety is unattainable. Prioritize applications sourced from the Google Play Store whenever feasible. Carefully review requested permissions, installation numbers, user reviews, and the developer’s overall reputation.
Image Source: othree on Flickr