Hello! I'm Shemhaza, the Sentinel. Do you use your smartphone every day? While there are many convenient and fun apps, some 'fake' apps might be lurking, targeting your smartphone. These are malicious programs that look exactly like the real thing, but actually steal personal information or spend your money without permission. This time, let's explore the clever tactics of such fake apps and how to protect your precious smartphone!
How do fake apps creep onto your smartphone?
- ▸① They disguise themselves as popular apps! Fake apps imitate the appearance of popular apps that everyone uses, such as banking, social media, and games, trying to catch you off guard. The app icon, name, and even descriptions are cleverly falsified, so many people accidentally download them.
- ▸② They entice you to download from 'dangerous places'! They might tempt you to 'Download this app!' from suspicious websites that are not official, SNS advertisements, or links in messaging apps. Their common tactic is to get you to install apps from places other than official app stores.
- ▸③ They ask for 'unusual permissions'! After installation, be cautious if they ask for access permissions to personal information that seems unrelated to the app's functions, such as 'Show me your entire phone book' or 'Can I use your camera?' This is how they try to steal important information from your smartphone.
Checkpoints to protect yourself
- ✓Before downloading an app, confirm that the provider (company name or developer name) is truly legitimate.
- ✓Check if your smartphone's 'Settings' are configured to disallow 'Installation of unknown apps'.
- ✓Never download apps from sources other than official app stores (Google Play or App Store).
- ✓Always check the contents of the 'permissions' requested by an app for anything unusual, and if suspicious, cancel the installation.
- ✓Install security software (antivirus app) and ensure it is always up-to-date.
Where to turn for help when in trouble
If you suspect you may have downloaded a fake app or your smartphone is behaving unusually, immediately disconnect from the internet and contact the Consumer Hotline (188) or the Police Consultation Dial (#9110). If you have entered credit card information, immediately contact your card company to check for any unauthorized use.