If it doesn’t, the application might be fake. Malicious apps might use low-quality illustrations or photoshopped images. If you don’t read every syllable thoroughly, it can be hard to spot the difference.īe cautious about images and screenshots. Imposters sometimes use the same name as the original app creator’s, changing only one or two letters. Always check the developers’ reputation and see what other products they have released.

If you see a popular app with only several thousand downloads, it’s most likely a counterfeit. Legitimate Android apps have millions or even billions of downloads. If you spot any grammar mistakes or typographical errors, it’s reason enough to raise an eyebrow.Ĭheck the number of downloads. App creators usually polish their descriptions to perfection. Always take them with a big dose of skepticism. But you should also beware of positive reviews, as some of them can be fake. If the app rating is low, and many users complain about the service, it’s a red flag. The developers of Chingari have reported the issue to Google multiple times, but not much has changed, as new copycats keep appearing.Ĭheck the reviews. This successful Indian short video app has dozens of counterfeits on Google Play, and some of them have been downloaded thousands of times. However, start-ups or smaller companies rarely have the resources to afford such a luxury.Ĭhingari is one such unfortunate company. Fake apps can reside for months on Google Play or the App Store before they get removed.īig international companies like Facebook or Twitter have dedicated teams that chase fake apps across the internet and get rid of them. Doesn’t this make you wonder why there are so many of them? The short answer is that some Android apps are malicious. If you type “calculator” in the search bar on Google Play, you will see endless results. It can be a simple alarm clock or a racing game, constantly bombarding you with inappropriate ads or redirecting you to harmful websites. These are apps promoting pornography, illegal activities, violence, or hate speech. A flashlight, a calorie checker, a step counter - there are plenty of apps that do what they promise, but behind the scenes they infect your smartphone or steal data. Once you download an imposter, it can leave you with malware and an empty bank account. They might have the same interface, the same description, and even the same name to trick users. These fake apps mimic successful ones, trying to look like the original. They typically fall into three categories: Some fake Android apps will show you annoying ads, while others might monitor your activity, install malware, and steal personal information. Fake apps are designed to trick users into believing they are legitimate applications so they can do their dirty job.

Fake app names