Typically, major mobile app stores (namely Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store, among others) are a safe environment. Companies have invested in shields and security measures to keep users away from potentially harmful software. However, there are still some cases where malicious apps manage to temporarily sneak into these app stores, potentially compromising your security.
Gen, a cybersecurity firm, has published a report revealing a growing trend in the number of potentially malicious apps on major app stores. Attackers seem to be primarily targeting victims’ bank accounts. Plus, malicious loan apps also seem to be proliferating.
Apps that could compromise your security are proliferating in the main app stores
Gen researchers discovered that new “bankers” apps were launched in Q4 2024. These apps specifically aim to steal your banking credentials, jeopardizing the security of your accounts. This type of malicious software is often disguised as more well-known or seemingly harmless apps, such as Visa tools, popular browsers (like Chrome), or even dating platforms. However, these apps are trojanized with software like BankBot. In fact, the latter compromised 236% more devices compared to Q3 2023, according to the report.
Quick money loan apps with malicious intentions also seem to be proliferating. These apps request an excessive amount of permissions that allow attackers to access sensitive data on your device. Then, malicious third parties use the victims’ personal data to extort them. In these types of cases, common sense is your best weapon. If what an app offers seems too good to be true, you should question why.
The Gen security report adds that attackers are exploring new ways of distributing apps. For example, they found a malware-infected body mass index (BMI) calculator app in the Amazon app store.
Stores from reputable brands remain safe environments
That said, official app stores from brands like Apple, Google, and Samsung (among others) are still generally safe. It’s far riskier to download apps from external websites or platforms of more dubious origins. These often lack any security barriers against malware, whether manual review or automatic detection. By being cautious about the app permissions you grant and using common sense, you should be fine.
