How to Verify the Authenticity and Integrity of an APK Version
Authenticity and Integrity of an APK Version
APK (Android Package Kit) is a file format that Android OS and a few other mobile operating systems use to install software applications. It is similar to EXE files on Windows systems, DMG files on Mac OS platforms and IPA files on iOS systems.
APK files can contain a variety of things from compiled code to images and text. APK files are compressed data which requires specialized applications to extract and view their contents. The best way to test the integrity of an APK file is to run it through a virus scanner before installing on a device. APKs are also prone to malware so it is important to only download them from trusted sources.
Despite all the precautions one should still be aware of malicious APKs which may harm devices or cause privacy violations. There is no fool proof way to ensure that an APK is safe but the following methods will help.
How to Verify the Authenticity and Integrity of an APK Version
One of the easiest ways to verify if an APK is safe is by asking others for their opinions and reading the reviews posted by them on different websites. If they have found anything suspicious with an APK file at www.apkarena.org then they would probably warn other users or report it to the website administrators.
There is a solution which enables users to check the integrity of their apps via a backend API service. However this is a rather advanced and complicated approach which may not be practical for many people.
Another option which could be useful for people who frequently test their APKs is to use a Mobile App Attestation solution. This will certify that the latest version of the APK uploaded to Google Play store is indeed the original and unmodified version.
APKs are also able to be stored outside of Google Play store which makes it easier for people to sideload and test their own programs without having to go through the official process of uploading them to the Android App Store.
In addition to this APKs are able to provide more versions for users as they are not bound by the same limitations that the official Google Play App Store has. This is a great benefit for new developers who are on their first tries and cannot afford to pay the fees that Google Play Store charges to get their apps approved.