Is APKMIRROR.COM Safe or Should be Avoided to download APK file?

[android_freak1]

Hi,

First off, I am very security cautious about what apps and what sources they are downloaded from. With that said, I need an app which is not available in Google Play Store. I came across APKMIRROR.COM and would like to download the APK file for it.

My question is, is APKMirror.com safe or should I avoid it?

The app is available through my iPhone (App Store), but looks like Google Play does not have it listed.

The App in question is called Scanner Radio by Gordon Edwards and the Play Store does not have it listed. I used to have Broadcastify, which is junk, and contains too many Ads.

 

[hallux]

If Gordon is not distributing through the Play Store, has he posted someplace to download the app? If he suggests APKMIRROR, then if you have a choice for the actual source there use it. Keep in mind that sites such as that have no checks for malware so you run the risk of downloading a modified app that contains undesired payloads.

For what it's worth - that app IS on the Play Store - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scannerradio&hl=en_US I would use that source...

 

[android_freak1]

On the Play Store, I get Not available in my country message .
And Gordon also has a Facebook page to the link as well on the Play Store. Tried both. No luck. Same message.

https://www.facebook.com/scannerradio/

I think Ill just download the APK file instead. Its just ONE app I need, nothing else.
No big deal.

Broadcastify is full of Ads now, so I just prefer to use Scanner Radio.

 

[Sizzers]

Although not so much now, I've used APKMirror for many years without any problems at all.

The site is an offshoot of Android Police (one of my first three go-to sites) who specialise in apps. I have copied over their security policy at the end, but please also read their FAQ's on the site.

There is a risk on ANY download site (which also includes the Play Store), and don't forget that Play Protect will still be scanning the APK. Not advising you what to do, but just expressing my opinion. Anyway, for anyone's interest here is their policy:

Security: What measures do you take to make sure all uploaded APKs are real and created by the respective developers?

All APKMirror.com uploads are verified prior to publishing.

We make sure that the cryptographic signatures for new versions of all previously published apps match the original ones, which means we know if uploaded APKs were signed by the real devs or someone pretending to be them.
Note: APKMirror.com has been protected from the Janus vulnerability in Android from day one.

a. For new apps that have never been uploaded to APKMirror.com, we try to match the signatures to other existing apps by the same developer. If there’s a match, it means that the same key was used to sign a previously known legitimate app, therefore validating the new upload.
b. If we see no matches, we try to obtain and compare to a version of the same app from the Play Store or another verified location. If it’s a beta, we will try to get into it. If we can’t, we will attempt to contact the developer.
c. If we’re unable to verify the legitimacy of a new APK, we will simply not publish it.

 

[J Dubbs]

Hi,

First off, I am very security cautious about what apps and what sources they are downloaded from. With that said, I need an app which is not available in Google Play Store. I came across APKMIRROR.COM and would like to download the APK file for it.

My question is, is APKMirror.com safe or should I avoid it?

The app is available through my iPhone (App Store), but looks like Google Play does not have it listed.

The App in question is called Scanner Radio by Gordon Edwards and the Play Store does not have it listed. I used to have Broadcastify, which is junk, and contains too many Ads.

You can use Virus Total to scan it just to be safe and you can use the site to scan things without downloading or installing anything

VirusTotal

VirusTotal

www.virustotal.com

But I've never had any issues with apk mirror.. Android Police seem to do a pretty good job with it