APK files are modified versions of applications created by people or third-party teams, and they are not associated with the original provider. As they are used to install applications on the system, they can be a security risk if someone with malicious intent modifies the APK before installing it. It is possible to update applications installed from APKMirror to the latest version from Google Play. VirusTotal is a popular website that helps people detect viruses and other issues in an APK file.
It is possible to scan files directly from an Android phone using the Metadefender service. If the checksum is similar to the result of HashDroid, it can be said that the APK file is original and safe. However, since these files do not come from the Play Store, it is important to take responsibility for ensuring there are no surprises in the code. The SHA of a file is a kind of fingerprint that ensures that the data has not been modified or manipulated.
APK Mirror is generally accepted as a safe place to obtain APK files. When you enter an APK file in the verification bar, HashDroid will show you information about its MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-256, as well as its risk classification, permissions requested by the application, size of the file and virus scan results. The Yalp Store app can be used to download apps directly from the Google Play Store. All APKs are extracted from the Google Play Store so they are secure and protected.
To prevent viruses from infecting your phone, it is important to only download APKs from trusted sources.
