When you install programs that are not official or that you have downloaded from non-legitimate sites, you may experience certain problems. Your security may be compromised, since those applications could contain malware, could have been modified to steal passwords, spy on you, etc. Also, maybe in the short term it is not a problem, but in the long term it is. Therefore, in this article we are going to explain how installing unofficial programs affects you and what you should take into account.
What happens if you use unofficial apps
When we talk about unofficial programs or applications Basically there are two options: you have downloaded a program totally different from the original, simply a copy that they have made, or it is an application identical to the original, but they have modified it and it is a threat. Therefore, knowing how these types of programs can affect you is important to avoid problems.
operating problems
The first thing is that they may have operating problems. Something as basic as that they really do not fulfill the function that you expect from those applications. Maybe they don’t start directly or do it, but with limitations. It could also happen that they do work, but not in the same way as the official applications and that generates failures.
It does not mean that they necessarily contain viruses or are a serious security problem. But without a doubt, you will notice that the operation is not optimal and that will affect the tasks that you have to perform.
They may have malware
Of course, installing unofficial apps may assume that they have malware. There are many types of threats, such as viruses that slow down the system, spyware, ransomware that encrypts all your files, etc. Hackers can hide many varieties of malware in fake apps.
This is something that can affect both programs that you install on the computer, as well as on the mobile. Therefore, it is essential to always install official applications and thus avoid security risks. It is one more way to avoid viruses that can affect the system.
data theft
Yet another danger of installing unofficial apps, or downloading them from illegitimate sites, is data theft. They can steal personal informationpasswords, device data, your location… Keep in mind that all this has great value on the network and cybercriminals are always looking for a way to obtain information.
Sometimes this does not happen directly by installing a program, but by additional add-ons that come hidden or that we install by mistake. Sometimes we may even be accepting terms that will compromise our privacy. Therefore, you should always check very well what you are installing and also what you accept.
Vulnerabilities in the future
One more problem is that in the future there may be vulnerabilities. That is, perhaps you install an unofficial application today and it works correctly, but in the future some uncorrected security flaw appears. That is when there could be problems and an attacker could exploit that vulnerability to sneak in some malware or steal data.
It is always important to check that all programs are up to date and thus avoid these vulnerabilities. But in the case of unofficial apps, they often don’t receive security updates and become outdated.
As you can see, using unofficial programs can be a significant problem. For one thing, it might not work properly. But on the other hand, they can contain malware and steal personal data without you realizing it. It is essential that you always check very well what you are installing and avoid problems. It is a way to avoid madware.
