So you’ve just found a new app that promises to change your life. Maybe it tracks your habits, helps you manage money, or turns your phone into a retro gaming machine. Whatever it is, you’re tempted to hit “Install.”
But here’s the thing: not every app deserves a home on your device. Some are more like nosy roommates, poking around your data and leaving the door open for strangers. The big question is–how do you know if an app is actually secure?
Start with the source
The first sign of app trustworthiness is where you’re downloading it from. If you’re using a major app store like Google Play or Apple’s App Store, you’re already off to a better start. In case you have some protection installed on your phone, every app you try to download from unverified sources will be denied, and you will be notified about it. If you still want it, you’d have to uninstall a protection app, give some permissions, and let your phone know that you really mean it.
Google Play and Apple’s App Store have some level of review process and security measures in place. For instance, if you want to play card games, downloading one from these platforms is a better idea than from a random website. Or, if you’re really up for an adventure, you can look for a legal and reputable casino site, sign in, and download a blackjack mobile app from there. According to iGaming expert Pride Kazunga, the number of mobile casino players is on the increase, so casinos are doing their best to provide apps and mobile versions of their sites. Still, check if the app is compatible with your device and if there are any bonuses for playing on mobile.
Look at the permissions
It’s wild how many people hit “Allow” on every permission request without a second thought. Why does your calculator need access to your microphone? Why does a wallpaper app need to read your messages? If something feels off, trust your gut instinct. Luckily, in the sea of apps, you can find at least a dozen on the same topic. One of them won’t be so clingy.
Secure apps only ask for what they truly need to function. If it’s a photo editing app, sure–it’ll need access to your photos. If it’s a messaging app, yes, it’ll want to access your contacts and maybe your camera. But if something mundane is asking for your location, storage, or call logs for no obvious reason, that’s your cue to stop and reconsider.
Modern phones do a better job now of letting you toggle permissions, but still, read what you’re agreeing to. You wouldn’t sign a blank check in real life, so don’t do it digitally.
Read the reviews, but read between the lines
Glowing five-star reviews that repeat the same phrases over and over? Those might be fake. One-star reviews full of spelling errors and vague complaints? Also potentially useless. But then there are those detailed three- or four-star reviews that mention real pros and cons. Those are your people. Also, if you’re looking for a sorting game with no ads, and one game is advertising as such, but reviews say many ads are disrupting the game flow, you might want to look for another version. Or pay the no-ads premium, or find peace in knowing that there truly are no games without ads.
Look for comments about how the app handles updates, crashes, or how it deals with personal data. If someone mentions spammy notifications or unexplained data usage, those are big red flags. If many users are reporting shady behavior, believe them before you end up writing your own regretful review.
Check for regular updates
An app that gets frequent updates is usually a sign that the developers are alive and paying attention. That’s good for security. Bugs get fixed. Holes get patched. Features improve. If you ever played Minion Rush, you know how it feels. This game gets an update for every holiday season and trend change.
On the flip side, if the app hasn’t been touched in two years, that’s a little worrying. The digital world changes fast. A secure app in 2022 might be a security risk by 2025. If developers are keeping up with the times, it means they care about performance and your safety. Inactive apps? They may still work, but they’re often a forgotten back door waiting to be kicked in.
Investigate the developer
Not all app developers are created equal. Some are giant, well-known companies with security teams and compliance departments. Others are one-person operations run from a laptop in a coffee shop. Neither is inherently bad, but transparency matters.
Does the developer have a website? Is it secure (look for HTTPS)? Do they list any kind of privacy policy or contact info? If it’s a serious app–especially one that handles financial transactions or stores your personal data–there should be some accountability. If all you find is a sketchy email address and no real info about the team behind the app, you might want to rethink.
