Links and apps

Unsafe links and forwarded APK files

A link in a WhatsApp group or an app file forwarded by a friend can install something that reads your messages, steals codes, or sends money. Here is how to judge them.

1. 1

   Read the address, not the text.

   Press and hold a link to see where it really goes. Look for misspellings and odd endings like a bank name followed by an unfamiliar domain.

2. 2

   Install apps from the official store only.

   APK files shared in chats skip every safety check. If an app is real, it is in the Play Store or App Store.

3. 3

   Question the permissions.

   A loan or betting app that wants your contacts, SMS and accessibility access is asking for far more than it needs.

4. 4

   Keep your phone updated.

   System updates close the holes that malicious apps use. Turn on automatic updates.

5. 5

   If you already installed it.

   Uninstall it, change the passwords for accounts you used on that phone, and check your mobile money and bank history.

If it did not come from the official store, it did not pass any check.