Downloading and installing malicious and suspicious applications on smartphones poses a threat to the security and privacy of data on the phone, including information, images, files, messages, personal conversations, passwords, login credentials for various accounts and applications, financial transaction data, and bank accounts, in addition to its negative impact on the overall performance of the device, which can sometimes lead to its damage and malfunction. Therefore, it is essential to be careful to download only trusted applications and avoid downloading and installing suspicious applications to maintain the performance of smart devices and protect the security and privacy of user data.
Google Play Store for Android and App Store for Apple devices include powerful tools to check the security of applications, making them the most reliable sources for downloading various types of applications, games, and programs on phones and tablets. However, some people may be mistaken in thinking that all apps available on these stores are safe to download and install on devices without exception. There are always some vulnerabilities that allow bypassing security checks and infiltrating a few malicious applications.
Google and Apple app stores are always keen to discover these vulnerabilities and fix them to minimize the presence of malicious apps and combat them as much as possible. They also provide users with a mechanism to report any application that raises doubts and seems trustworthy suspicious or if they believe it is a suspicious application. Below, we explain the available methods for reporting suspicious applications on various phones.
Ways to report suspicious applications on Android
There are two main ways to report suspicious applications on phones and smart devices running the Android operating system, either through the Google Play app directly or through the Google Play Store Help and Support website. We can detail the steps of these two methods as follows:
By using Google Play Store
This is the easiest method, which only requires us to open the Google Play app, type the name of the suspicious app we want to report in the search bar, and once we find it, press the (⁝) button at the top left of the app page. Then click on the “Flag as Inappropriate” option. In the next step, we need to select the reason for reporting the app from a range of options, including impersonation, sexual content, content that promotes hatred, or incorrect content. When reporting a harmful app, we select the option “Harmful to Device or Data.”
If the option “Harmful to Device or Data” is not available in the list of options, and if none of the options in the list are suitable for the reason you are reporting the app, just select the “Other Objection” option at the end of the list, then click “Submit” to send the objection notification.
Also Read: Why should you add a review on Google Play for every app you use?
By using the Google Play Store Help and Support website
The Apple Store does not allow us to provide any additional details about the evidence that reinforces our suspicions when reporting applications or mention a more accurate reason other than the reasons mentioned for reporting the application. However, Google provides an alternative way to report applications through the web by using the Google Play Help and Support website. This method is useful as mentioned when there is a need to mention reasons and additional details related to the app being reported if we are using a computer instead of our mobile phone.
We can report suspicious applications on the web by going to the Google Play Help Center website through a web browser, then going to the “Getting Started with Google Play” section under the “Browse Help Topics” menu. Then, click on the “Help by Product Type” option. In the next step, select “Google Play Store” from the list of products, then go to the “Fix an Issue” section and click on the option “Find an app and fix it.” After navigating to the list, click on the option “Report a problem with an app or review on Google Play.”
In the next page, we move to the “On a computer” section, then click on the link “Inappropriate App Report Form“, and start filling out the required form with the data, which includes the name and email address, app name, and selecting the reason for reporting the app.
When reporting a harmful app, we select the option “Harmful to Device or Data.” If none of the other options in the menu are suitable for the description of the reason for reporting the app, you can select the option “Other Objection” at the end of the menu, then write the reason for reporting the app more accurately.
You can also upload any images or screenshots that reinforce your doubts about the app and support the validity of your report by clicking on the “Choose files” button and selecting the location of the images you want to attach to the report from your computer, then clicking on the “Open” button to upload them. You will also be asked to specify whether the app is still available on the Google Play Store or not. Finally, after filling out the form, click the “Submit” button.
Google reviews and analyzes the reports filed about apps, whether through the Google Play app or through the Google Play Help website on the web. If these reports are validated, the apps are removed from the Google Play Store.
Reporting suspicious apps on iPhone
Apple has added the ability to report problems with apps available for download on the App Store starting from iOS 15 by sending a report to the company for review of user complaints and acting as an intermediary between the user and the developer. All you have to do to report suspicious apps on iPhones using iOS 15 or later is to open the App Store and click on the “Search” button at the bottom left of the screen, then enter the name of the suspicious app you want to report in the search bar. Once you find the app, go to the information section and click on the “Report a Problem” option. Please note that this option will only appear if you have previously downloaded the app on your phone.
The previous procedure will open Apple’s complaints website, where we will need to log in using the Apple ID and then go to the “How can we help you?” section. Then click on the drop-down menu attached to this section, which includes a range of options, such as “Report fraud or scam,” “Report illegal content,” and “Report a quality issue.”
We select the appropriate option from the menu and then click on the “Next” button. In the next window, we can write a more detailed description of the reasons for the report in the text box, then finally click on “Submit” to complete sending the report. Apple will review and analyze the reports and re-examine the reported apps to remove them if they do not comply with the store’s security policy. Users can also request a refund for payments made for subscription or services purchased from these apps.
In the end, it is essential to be vigilant in protecting and securing your personal data and keeping your phone free from applications is your responsibility before any other party, so try to avoid downloading any applications or games on your phone or smart device from unreliable sources and, if necessary, download and install applications from unofficial app stores such as the Amazon Appstore “Amazon Appstore” maybe safer than downloading from websites that provide direct application and APK file downloads.
