Online shopping has been growing nearly exponentially in the past number of years. As you well know, mobile devices are replacing computers for the shopping experience. This has lead to the rapid rise and use of mobile devices being used for shopping. However, being in the thick of the Christmas shopping season in the United States, customers are now falling prey to the scam of fake apps. The normally stringent app review process has been compromised, leading to a proliferation of fake shopping apps.
This is a problem that has affected Apple and Google. Here’s a screen shot showing fake apps provided by the NY Times:
This is a knock off of Footlocker. What do you notice? Here are some things. Although it has an official name, it is not “Footlocker” but “Footlocke.” What makes things harder is the fact that the app icons mimic official brands that exist.
You well know what can happen once an app is installed and gets permission to the most personal information. You are at significant risk of having personal information compromised. This can lead to a multitude of headaches. The longest lasting impact could be financial.
The question become then, how to prevent yourself or your clients from becoming a victim. I would suggest going to the official website to find a link that will lead you to the right store for a download link. That is less likely to get hacked as there are a multitude of websites. The Apple App Store and Google Play Store, although they are generally safe, is an easier point of access since they are sole providers of the apps themselves and easier to get into. With that, be safe and we are looking forward to helping you out. Using the Mobile App Maker Pro platform will give you direct access to link from our website (if you don't have one) to the respective App Store. This will be the best way to safeguard your mobile device and those of your clients.
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