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Hackers hid malware code inside counterfeit apps to trick customers into using them.
Christmas may be about sharing and giving, but it’s also about buying stuff. All the more reason to be on the lookout for counterfeit apps.
Several online publications have warned consumers that many fake applications have flooded Apple’s online store and that users’ personal data are at risk. Perfectly mimicking legitimate applications published by vendors such as Puma and Nike, these counterfeit apps exploits the users need to buy things on the go.
How do these applications work? For example, if you are looking to buy a new computer or a console for your gamer significant other, the fastest way to do is online. Apple’s store offers tons of application from legitimate shops that commercialize these products.
But one single search returns so many results that the users are unable to decide which one to choose. Keep in mind that counterfeit applications will most likely be in front of legit apps to trick the user into downloading and installing them.
The app itself is not so different from the real one – the same interface, the same logo, and the same font. Seeing that the app looks ok and works faster than expected, the user casually begins to browser around and to pick up items.
After selecting their items of choice, the customer will head to the checkout section where they must fill in a couple of personal details such as delivery address, name, e-mail address, and PayPal account/credit card number.
But, unbeknownst to him or her, upon installing, the app install a malware code in the background that basically registers all your personal information. So, by the time you realize that you’ve picked the wrong app to do your online Christmas shopping, the guys from the other side empty your bank account, leaving you broken hearted.
In order to avoid these situations, you will need to follow a couple of steps. The first solution to this problem is to avoid downloading the app directly from the store. Apple’s anti-malware safeguard is good, but even the most diligent gatekeeper can fall asleep sometimes. Go to the store’s official page and download the iOS application from there.
Another good piece of advice is to install an anti-malware software on your device. Finally, when downloading any type of app from the store, check to see if it’s legit or not. Google the developer who created the app, look at the comment section, and at the size of the application.
Image source: Pixabay
