Friday, November 18, 2022 – Warning: Even apps from the official app stores can be malicious – Make Windows 11 open things with one click

Reminder: Even apps from the official app stores can be malicious

Regular readers know I’m always reminding folks to only install apps from the official app stores to greatly reduce the odds of installing a malicious app, and for good reason: Apple, Google and Microsoft actually do a pretty good job overall of ensuring that only safe apps are available in their repositories.

But that being said, a few bad apps do slip past the app store’s rigid screening process at times. And other apps are completely safe when they are initially uploaded, but morph into malware at some later date.

That’s why it pays to keep close tabs on the apps you choose to allow onto your devices. Here are a few clues to look out for to ensure that your installed apps are still safe:

1 – Pay close attention to the way your apps behave while you’re using them. If they suddenly start acting flaky or asking for info they’ve never requested before, that could be a sign that the app has gone over to the dark side.

2 – If you install a new app and start receiving all kinds of SPAM and/or snail-mail junk mail within a few days, that’s a sign that the app might have collected your contact information and started selling it to spammers and scammers.

3 – If an app suddenly starts running slow or freezing up on you completely after having run smoothly for some time, that’s an indication that a buggy or malicious update might have been installed.

In either of the above cases, it would be a good idea to remove the app ASAP until you’ve had a chance to verify that it’s still safe.

One easy (and very effective) way to check on the status of an app is to type its name and the name of the company behind it into Google News. If the app is indeed malicious you’ll likely find multiple news stories about it.

Bottom line: Always pay close attention to the way your apps are behaving so you can (hopefully) uninstall the bad ones before they have a chance to wreak too much havoc on your device and your life.

Bonus tip: It’s also a good idea to occasionally visit the download pages in the app store(s) for your installed apps to see if any of the permissions the apps grant to themselves have changed. Some apps can become ever more intrusive over time.

The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips Tech Blog…

• Q&A: How can I make Windows 11 open things with one click?

The answer is in this post.

• Q&A: Which version of Linux is most like Windows?

This post features my personal favorite.

• Click here to see today’s ‘Picture of the Day’.

Every morning I post a new photo that I find inspiring, intriguing, or just plain beautiful to look at. Jumpstart your day by checking it out.

Rick’s Daily Pick…

Pxwaxpy High Capacity Portable Charger/Power Bank (#ad)

Do your devices tend to run out of battery juice at the worst possible times? If so, you need this little gem.

Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…

Guess what? Earth isn’t the only planet that has Auroras.

File this one under “Who knew?”

Tech news that caught my eye…

• Police dismantle pirated TV streaming network with 500,000 users

• Tesla’s Lithium Refinery Project now in final stretch of its negotiations with Texas

• Opinion: Apple’s redesigned iCloud.com is something you’ll actually want to use

• Your laptop’s battery life may be dropping faster than you think

• Mayo Clinic: Apple Watch can help spot another life-threatening heart condition

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Your tech buddy,

Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com