India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Helo and WeChat

Official sources: Ensure that your mobile apps are installed from reputed sources, such as Google Play store and Apple store. Even reputed sources have a few malicious apps that remain undetected. However, as these sources have stringent security checks, your chances to download genuine and secure apps are higher.

Review: When you download an app, ensure that you do an extensive background check. For example, when you download an app from Google Play store, check the following:

• Downloads: Verify the number of downloads. Higher number of downloads is a positive factor. As a benchmark, downloads of 10000 or more can be considered for download.
• Reviews: Read the reviews and feedback from other users. Additionally, check the number of reviews. The higher number of reviews suggests that reviews are genuine. If there are only a few reviews, it could be a case where the app team themselves have posted the reviews, or the app may be a newly launched one. It is also not recommended to download newly launched apps as these may have multiple security risks. As and when later versions of an app are released, the security risks are usually mitigated.
• Rating: The apps are rated by users. The higher the rating, the better it is. As a benchmark, a rating of 4 and above can be considered for download.
• Developer contact: Ensure that this information is available in the app home page in the app store. Fake and malicious apps usually do not have this information. Visit the developer website and research about other apps developed by the developer. Additionally, check if an official email address is listed in the app home page and verify it is genuine.
• Editors choice: Ensure that your app is recommended by the app store Editors. For example, in Google Play store, you can check if “Editors Choice” is displayed in the app home page.

Permission: Earlier, apps used to ask permission while installing. However, in the latest versions of Android, apps do not ask permission while downloading but only when you open the apps for the first time after you install it. Ensure that the permission requested by apps is appropriate. For example, a food delivery app may require access to your location but a game or planner app does not require access to your location. Similarly, a Music Player app may need access to your Storage but does not need access to your Camera, Microphone or Contacts. If an app is requesting too many permissions that are not relevant, it may not be a safe one to use. Uninstall apps that are crossing their borders. Moreover, to allow or deny permissions, go to Settings>Apps in your Smartphone.

Review installed apps: Frequently review the apps installed in your Smartphone. Uninstall any app that you have not used for 30 days or more.

Security software: Similar to your computer, your phone also requires security software to detect malicious elements in the app. Most of the genuine and reputed brands provide security software by default. If your Smartphone Company has not installed security software, download a reputed one from the app store.