Are All Apps on the App Store Safe? Can They Have Viruses & Malware?

App Store Security Exploration: Risks of Viruses and Malware

There are millions of applications on the App Store, making it difficult for users to tell which applications are safe and reliable and which may be at risk. You will take good care of your Mac to prevent it from physical damage or theft, and likewise, you want to make sure that you do not harm your device due to harmful software. After all, your Apple device stores all sensitive information, precious photos, and other important data.

However, you may not know how to determine if the app you want to try on the App Store is safe. If it is not safe, you need to understand what causes them to be unsafe and how to protect yourself.

There are several ways to ensure you download a secure app, such as searching for it and reading the privacy policy carefully before installing it. In this article, we will explore all of this in more detail and discuss whether all apps on the App Store are truly safe.

Is the App Store safe?

Short answer: Yes, at least in most cases. When you purchase, download and install apps from the App Store, you can rest assured that it is safe and reliable for your Mac and ultimately benefit your privacy.

Does the App Store app carry viruses?

It usually doesn't, so it's unlikely that your Apple laptop will get viruses from the App Store. The App Store is considered to be safer than Google Play, which is often considered to host apps that contain errors and raise security issues. According to Apple's developer website, more than 90% of iOS apps are reviewed within 24 hours. Therefore, only trustworthy high-quality applications can be available on the App Store.

With that being said, even if App Store viruses are rare, you should not blindly believe that all apps are safe or relax your guard. While Apple will review apps before adding them to the App Store, they may become insecure over time. This is especially true for applications that are updated from time to time or not for a long time. Hackers can exploit security vulnerabilities in these apps to infect your Macbook with viruses and malware.

If the app you downloaded on your Mac is not from the App Store, the same rule applies.

How Apple maintains security on the App Store

Apple adopts strict procedures to review applications to help maintain the security of the App Store and thus protect users' safety. The specific methods used are as follows:

• Manual review
• Digital signature
• Fair and just review rules.

Manual review

Apple will arrange for manual testing of the application during the audit process. So when you play your favorite game on the iOS app, you can rest assured that a certain Apple employee has played it to determine if it is safe for users like you. It's a time-consuming process, but it reflects Apple's commitment to listing the best apps only on the App Store.

Of course, human errors always exist, and hackers can find new technologies to bypass the system. However, Apple will often immediately spot these vulnerabilities and patch any vulnerabilities in app security, because the security of the App Store is highly preferred.

Digital signature

Different applications have different functions. Some can send you notifications, while others don't have much functionality. It depends on whether the app developer has obtained the Apple developer certificate.

Developer certificate allows apps to access certain iOS features, such as the ability to use Apple Pay. Developers do not obtain these certificates by default, they must apply to Apple and insert them into their code. This process is called Digital signature.

Digital signatures determine what actions an app can and cannot do on your device, which allows Apple to mark an app when it performs actions beyond its scope for obtaining a certificate. This in turn can protect users from malicious attacks or exploitation by application developers.

Fair and just review rules

Apple has no bias against developers when reviewing apps and granting them access to iOS features. Apple treats all developers fairly regardless of their popularity, popularity on the App Store, and how much they earn.

In other words, larger and more mature businesses cannot easily access the App Store. This also protects you and your privacy, as it ensures that all apps go through the same process, no matter what app it is.

In the past, some app developers and businesses have expressed dissatisfaction with Apple's strict regulations. Others praised it as a merciless company, and its favor cannot be bought with money.

Apps not found on the App Store

Of course, not all apps can pass Apple's review process. Apple revealed in a 2021 blog post that it rejected or deleted nearly one million new apps and about one million app updates in 2020. Here are the reasons why Apple may prevent apps from being available on the App Store:

• Occursive or offensive content
• Lass supervision of user content
• Apps that may cause personal injury
• Apps that bypass your privacy.

Occursive or offensive content

Think about the last time you used it on the App Store or encountered an app that contained offensive content. You may not have encountered this because Apple does not list such apps. Apple prohibits any apps that are deemed unsuitable for public use. Apps that are prohibited on the App Store fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Porn
• Bloody violence
• Discriminatory content, especially those that discriminate against gender, race, religion and sexual orientation (applicants with satire and comedy may be allowed)
• Express the application of how to conduct or encourage illegal behavior.

Lass supervision of user content

The App Store can close these apps if the app allows user-generated content to be unregulated. This puts the developer in the responsibility of reviewing the content of their users to ensure they do not post any offensive or offensive content.

You might be thinking, “Does social media apps allow users to express their opinions freely due to free speech?” Yes, they do allow, but social media apps must ensure that users do not cross the line.

Actually, this may be difficult to do. And, as you may have seen, social media users may post extreme views and controversial content. Developers must develop clear community guidelines. They must evaluate the user’s content and behavior and manage it according to their community guidelines to avoid being banned on the App Store.

Apps that may cause personal injury

In addition to offensive content, Apple will also remove apps that may cause personal injury. To do this, Apple will mark applications that encourage the use of tobacco or illegal substances. Unless these applications are published by an accredited agency and developer, any application that provides medical advice and determines the dose of the drug will also be marked.

Apps that bypass your privacy

Apple's app review process and security measures are mainly designed to protect your privacy. Apps that process personal information must meet Apple's security requirements or they will be rejected. This reduces the likelihood of hacking applications on the App Store.

How malware is uploaded to the App Store

Although it is not common, there have been App Store malware and App Store virus incidents in the past. But, given that Apple is so strict with app security, how do hackers do this?

Malicious apps will prompt your Mac to visit a website that runs invisible ads in the background so they can secretly make money from the ads. After all, advertising is the lifeblood of apps and websites—it's how they make money in addition to app payments.

Developers know how thorough Apple’s app review process is, so they program the app to pass the review. This is why some apps only start to show malicious behavior after they are installed on the user's computer to avoid being discovered by Apple.

What will malicious applications do?

Apple is very strict about its approving apps on the App Store, and there is good reason. The following are malicious activities that the app may participate in:

• Advertising fraud
• Information Theft
• Browser Hijacking
• Phishing Alert.

Advertising fraud

The ad itself is not opposed in the App Store. In fact, it is common for legitimate apps to display ads so they can make money. However, some apps are involved in ad fraud, running invisible ads in the background, which may make more money using your Apple laptop.

This is fraud, because it is done secretly without your knowledge. Additionally, this practice can drain the laptop's battery and use a lot of bandwidth.

Information Theft

The amount of information that applications steal from your computer is limited because they are installed in a sandbox. But that doesn't mean they simply can't steal your information.

Malicious apps can use spyware to access everything you copied to your clipboard, which poses a huge risk to your privacy. For example, if you copy and paste your bank details while using online banking, the information may be stolen. Your bank account may be accessed and your funds may be used or withdrawn. Other personal information you enter or store in the app may also be stolen.

Browser Hijacking

Malicious apps can take over your browser and open malicious links. These malicious links usually initiate phishing attacks to trick you into abandoning your personal information. If not, they will try to get into your device through security vulnerabilities.

Phishing Alert

Phing is a common method used by hackers and cybercriminals. They send phishing alerts through the app that disguise as legitimate alerts from reputable sources to get your user details. For example, a malicious app might send you an alert claiming from your local bank asking you to provide bank credentials. It is important to remember that you never participate in such alerts.

Things to consider before downloading the app

Do not blindly download and install applications. Be sure to do your due diligence before downloading the app from the App Store. Please follow these tips to download a safe app on the App Store:

• Understand their developers
• Check version history
• Read the app's privacy policy
• Permissions to read the app
• Check application reviews and comments.

Understand their developers

Google has a large number of reliable sources that you can check to determine if the app or its developers are legal. Please remain skeptical about any apps and developers who have no public information available for online viewing.

Check version history

Any app that has not been updated in the past few weeks or months is a problem because it means it is not maintained. The app is unsafe and unsafe without regular updates, as hackers can easily exploit any bugs or security vulnerabilities that may exist in older versions. Select those apps that have multiple recent updates.

Read the app's privacy policy and application permissions

Take a moment to read the app's privacy policy and app permissions carefully. This will ensure that you do not grant the app permissions beyond the necessary scope to obtain and use your personal information.

Let the nature of the application guide you. For example, not all apps need to use your camera, so those that don't need should not request permissions. Again, apps do not need access to your passwords, so you should never grant them permission to use them.

Check application reviews and comments

While some app reviews and reviews are untrue (some apps pay for good reviews), others are honest and reliable. Please read the negative reviews carefully to determine whether they are the decisive factors. For example, bad reviews about app privacy should not be ignored.

How to avoid malicious applications?

You can't always tell when the app is malicious. However, there are some ways to avoid using malicious apps on your Mac. The method is as follows:

• Use reliable antivirus software
• Don't jailbreak the device
• Keep iOS update
• Research on less popular applications
• Understand how malicious applications behave.

Use reliable antivirus software

No doubt. Antivirus software hides your real IP address so you can use the internet safely without being detected. More importantly, they prevent hackers, cybercriminals and malicious actors from infecting your computer with viruses. MacKepeer's Antivirus Software Tool is a reliable antivirus software program that removes viruses and malware and blocks them when installing new apps.

Don't jailbreak the device

Jailbreak is the worst thing you can do and poses one of the biggest threats to your privacy. This is because it bypasses your Apple device’s security system, thus preventing it from doing its job – blocking threats.

Keep iOS update

Apple will update its software to fix any bugs and security vulnerabilities that may be used to enter your Mac or infected with it with viruses and malware. Keeping iOS updated is an effective way to prevent viruses and malware from entering your computer.

Research on less popular applications

Investigate applications that are less popular or come from unknown developers instead of directly excluding them. Read about developers on reliable websites and sources. You can also read reviews, although they may be paid, so be cautious. Beware of applications that lack online comments or information.

Understand how malicious applications behave

Malware is designed to operate under radar, so it is difficult to remove it. Hackers and malicious developers know how apps work, so they know how to hide viruses and malware. An obvious sign that an application is malicious is that it drains the device's resources, such as battery and bandwidth. Malicious apps can also cause your Macbook to overheat.

Is the App Store app safe?

Apps in the App Store are as safe as possible. Generally speaking, you shouldn't encounter any malicious or unsafe apps in the App Store—Apple does a pretty good job of auditing them. However, this does not mean that you should not do due diligence.

Take the time to learn about any apps you are interested in and their developers – what information is there about them? What do users say in the comments? Are they appearing in the media due to privacy or security issues?

In addition to your research, make sure you use MacKeeper's smart uninstaller to delete any old, unused apps on your Mac. This tool will reduce the risk of your Apple device being infected with viruses and malware and give you peace of mind because your privacy is protected.

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