An important news has come out for the people using WhatsApp. A third party app called WhatsApp Messenger has been found on the Google Play Store, which has been downloaded more than 5 lakh times. Worryingly, on searching for this app, it was appearing as a sponsored listing above the official WhatsApp app. In such a situation, people who download the app in a hurry can get cheated.
A user on Reddit first pointed out the app. After this, Android Authority and The Verge also published reports on the matter. According to an October 16 report by The Verge, the app was available on the Google Play Store at the time. However, no immediate reaction has been given from Google in this matter.
How did a fake app get listed in the name of WhatsApp?
According to the report, the suspicious app was present on the Google Play Store under the name WhatsApp Messenger. It was published by a developer called Augment Assets sallu. The report also states that there is no other app listed under this developer’s name. To confuse users, this app used the same icons, screenshots and descriptions as the official WhatsApp. This is why it can be difficult to identify the actual app just by looking at the name and logo.
On the other hand, the official application of WhatsApp is published by WhatsApp LLC. According to a report by The Verge, the official app has over 10 billion downloads. It has also received the Editors’ Choice badge on the Google Play Store and has over 24.6 million reviews. Android Authority has also expressed the possibility that the suspicious app is using Google Play Store’s Early Access program. If this were the case, users would have had less opportunity to see other people’s warnings due to fewer public reviews appearing on the app.
How to identify genuine apps on Google Play Store?
Before downloading any app, check the name of its developer. In case of WhatsApp Messenger, the official developer should be WhatsApp LLC. Apart from this, also pay attention to the downloads, reviews and other information of the app.
Don’t assume an app is safe just because it appears at the top of search results. Sponsored listing does not mean the app is official. So, avoid installing an app based on its name, icon and appearance in advertisement.
What to do if you have downloaded a fake WhatsApp?
If you think you have installed a suspicious WhatsApp app, remove it from your phone. After this, go into the phone’s settings and check what permissions were given to that app. Remove these permissions as needed and also check the phone’s security.
If you have entered your account information or WhatsApp verification code in that app, take immediate steps to secure your account. Also keep track of login and security related activities in your WhatsApp account. Most importantly do not share WhatsApp registration code with anyone. This case shows that not every app available on the official app store is trustworthy. So, before downloading any app, it is very important to check its developer and other information.
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