If an APK was modified, can it be updated through the Google Play Store?

A

AC Question

I recently downloaded an APK of a free app. The site where I downloaded it from is not well known (it's called apkpure) The App got installed fine and even got updated through the Google Play. However, after installing the app, I was paranoid about possible malware in the sideloaded APK.

So I have few questions here-
1) Can a modified APK receive update through the Google Play?
2) Is there any way to know whether the side loaded APK was genuine?
3) Does every modified APK poses a secuirty risk? To rephrase it, can a modified APK be harmless?

PS - The APK was not available on APKMirror. So, downloaded it from APKpure
 

hallux

Q&A Team
Jul 7, 2013
12,322
7
38
Visit site
If the app is free and available on the Play Store, why risk getting it from a 3rd-party source?

I'm sorry that it doesn't really answer the question, not to mention discussion of such sites is frowned upon here.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
942,111
Messages
6,912,523
Members
3,158,234
Latest member
itamargs