It may have happened to you at some point: you check your phone and there are apps and files that you’re not sure where they came from. It’s relatively easy on Android. accidentally installing appsbecause there are very intrusive websites and applications with their banners and invitations to download and accept their advertisements.
We will teach you some practices to prevent unique apps are installed on android, something that will help you avoid malware on the phone. With a little caution and some recommendations to consider, you can keep your mobile clean of junk files.
Receiving a notice does not mean that you have to accept it
We usually go on autopilot when we see an “accept” prompt on the phone. Fortunately, on Android, you cannot install an APK file until you complete two steps: accept its download and install it. However, while it’s two steps, it’s nothing more than giving a few reviews “accept” twice.
Also, these are not always APK files, some apps They can redirect us directly to Google Play and, being an official store, we end up installing something we don’t need.
On some websites, you can skip the APK notice directly. Fortunately, Android warns before installing anything. Even though the “accept” button is big and colorful, you don’t need to press it.
android always alerts you when you are about to download an APK file. If it was not in your pl ans to install anything, it is not recommended to do so, no matter how much a website insists. In most cases, these are malicious applications that want to be installed “without our permission”.
Check the URL you are browsing
When we browse the web, it is more than common to find scam ads, which are nothing more than ads that allow you to download files. In this case, we give you a common example: you are looking for a movie online, and when you click to watch it, they “recommend” that you install a VPN to browse more securely.
- You open a webpage.
- You want to read content or download something.
- A new window opens, which is actually an advertisement asking you to download something similar to what you wanted.
- You end up downloading a file you didn’t want.
Countless web pages open intrusive advertisement with bad intentions when they want to reproduce content
If you notice, the download page is a different URL, opened in another window. Browsers like Chrome tell you what window and URL you are in.
Although not easy to spot for the average user, This is an ad open in a new window. How can you verify this? looking at the url and open window manager. Google Chrome allows you to see at all times which tab we are in: if a new one has been opened, it is recommended to close it immediately.
As a recommendation, it’s good to know that an honest app will never appear under a “Speed up your phone, protect me” ad. aggressive temporary hooks like “install now, now, etc.” and other premises that invite its download.
Advertising in Xiaomi’s own native apps.
With useless gift pop-up.
Sometimes these reviews they appear in the system applications themselves, as in the case of Xiaomi. In the MIUI cleaning app itself there are colorful prompts to install apps and we are welcome to add shortcuts to some functions. This will fill our desktop with unnecessary apps and features.
Check the notification bar from time to time
There are applications that, without our giving them permission, are hosted in the notification bar. If overnight there is something in the notification bar that you don’t recognize or you don’t know where it came from, you already know that there is something that has been installed without you realizing it.
Getting familiar with the notification bar is a good strategy to avoid being unaware when these things happen. External files that have been downloaded are also shown in this notification bar
Use a browser with AdBlock under certain circumstances
Browsers with AdBlock lag a little behind in the overall experience compared to alternatives like Chrome. However, if you are going to browse pages loaded with scam advertisements, they can save you from dissatisfaction.
This option is especially recommended when they send us a download link of dubious origin and which will surely open dozens of windows loaded with advertising.
They are a good choice for open download links which can be linked to a battery of advertising pages that you must see and accept to eventually reach the landing page, websites with content from movies and series, etc. Two good alternatives that we can recommend are Brave or the official AdBlock browser itself.
Don’t trust what some text messages promise
We are at the peak of SMS scams. And it is that we often receive messages in which They impersonate another company so you can access a website or download an app. This is called phishing and banks and courier companies seem to be the most common target among scammers.
In line with what we have already told you in the previous points, beware of urls, as much as they seem legit. In case of doubt, it is always better to contact the real company through a reliable contact channel and thus dispel any doubts. But never, ever download apps from such a link. And it is that sometimes they manage to look the same as Google Play when in reality it is a fake site.
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