Posted On 16 Dec 2021
As smartphone users, we are constantly wanting to upgrade our phones and download hundreds of applications for new capabilities. And we’re all guilty of it, downloading pointless applications in the hopes of discovering something special or turning our cellphones into superphones.
Some of us may wind causing more harm than good to our phones because of this approach. Even though Google analyses all apps in the Play Store before releasing them, certain viruses or spam programs created by hackers manage to get past the security checks. So, what can we do to make sure that the multitudes of applications we’re installing don’t irreparably harm our phones?
1) Download apps directly from Google Play
When we decide to download an app from the Google Play Store, particularly one that has just become popular, we need to make sure it is real.
If you’re seeking to download TikTok, for example, you’ll discover that, in addition to the original app, at least fifty others appear when you perform a basic search for it. This is because hackers duplicate the original app’s logo, making it difficult for a user to tell which app is genuine. The best way to avoid inadvertently downloading a dupe is to make sure you only access apps directly on the Google store.
2) Let Google Play Protect do its thing
This approach can be used if you have downloaded a bogus app by accident and it is causing an issue on your phone. Such a scenario has already been taken care of by Google. Simply follow the procedures below.
Step 1: Open Google Play Store on your Android phone.
Step 2: Tap on your profile in the top-right area of the screen. It will bring up a new pop-up with a variety of alternatives for you to pick from.
Step 3: Select Play Protect from the drop-down menu. It will open a tab. Tap Search, and Google will scan your phone for phony and hazardous applications.
Step 4: Once the scan is complete and No Harmful Apps are detected, you can be certain that your phone is secure, and you may only need to reboot it to resolve the issue. However, if it displays bogus programs, you must delete them immediately.
Enable Google Play Protect to guarantee that Google always keeps an eye on the applications you’re downloading. As a result, if Google identifies any false or harmful applications, it will inform you.
