Summary
Beta-testing mobile apps can be an exciting and rewarding experience.
Before diving in, you should know it comes with a few cybersecurity risks.
Most significantly, criminals can use fake beta tests to steal your data or money.
Heres a closer look at these schemes and how to avoid them.
How Do Mobile App Beta-Testing Scams Work?
An August 2023FBI announcementwarned users of a trend in app beta-testing scams.
However, its little more than a phishing front.
The apps may appear legitimate by using names, images, or descriptions similar to popular apps.
How the scam apps steal from you depends on the kind of service it pretends to be.
Cryptocurrency exchanges are one of the most frequently abused beta-app scams.
Beta apps are ideal for criminals because app stores dont vet these programs as they do the final versions.
If the company has a history of bad reviews, its best to avoid them.
Its equally suspicious if you cant find any information about it.
Also, check the apps reviews if possible.
Thats especially true of apps with high download numbers.
Bad reviews should also steer you away, as should good ones that sound quickly written or robotic.
Theres no reason a cryptocurrency exchange should have access to your contacts or camera.
As a rule of thumb, avoid the app if a request seems odd or makes you uncomfortable.
Poor Descriptions
You should also look at the apps description.
Cybercriminals often create content quickly because its quality doesnt matter much to them.
Vague descriptions, overly generic images, and value statements should also raise alarms.
