Android apps are a vital product for countless businesses. From gaming and video streaming apps to essential services in finance and healthcare sectors, and everything in between, companies in all industries are providing services to the over three billion active Android devices globally.
Right now, these apps are facing a major piracy threat.
Countless websites offer downloads for modified versions of brands’ apps, known as MOD APKs. These modded apps provide users free access to paid features, remove ads, and offer other benefits while threatening their security at the same time.
The growth in APK piracy should be a major concern for any business with an app in the Android ecosystem. Luckily, there’s a solution.
In this article, we’ll be providing an overview of MOD APKs; what they are, how they’re created, and the risks they pose to businesses and users alike.
What are APKs and MOD APKs?
An APK (Android Package Kit) is the file format used by the Android operating system to distribute and install mobile apps. When users download an app from the Google Play Store, they’re actually downloading an APK file. The file contains all the components the app needs to run properly on devices.
Bear in mind that APKs and apps aren't the same thing. To put it simply, users download the APK, the installer unpacks the files contained in the APK, and then the app is installed from those files.
MOD APKs are a modified version of an APK. They’re unofficial versions of apps that have been altered by someone other than the original developer, usually to unlock premium features, remove ads, or add new functionalities. In short, MOD APKs are a popular way to get full access to Android apps without paying.
How APK Piracy Works
APK piracy is a step-by-step process that starts by finding in-demand apps, continues with the extraction and modification of legitimate APK files into MOD APKs, and ends with their illegal distribution in online platforms.
1 - Extracting the APK
Pirates first target popular apps that have a broad user base. They extract the APK file from a legitimate app, often by downloading it from the Google Play Store and using special tools to get the APK from their device.
2 - Modifying and Repackaging
Next, pirates modify the APK file. They crack the code to remove security measures, such as licensing checks, which ensure the app is used legally. By stripping away these protections, the app can be used without paying for it.
Sometimes, malicious code such as malware or spyware is inserted during this stage, turning a pirated app into a potential threat for users. Users’ personal data or even access to their devices or bank accounts can be put at risk.
After modifying the APK, pirates repackage it. This means they compile the altered code back into an APK file, ready for distribution. The new file may look similar to the original but operates differently due to the removed security features or added malicious elements.
3 - MOD APK Distribution
Pirates then distribute the repackaged APKs on various illegal platforms, including APK download sites and unofficial app stores. These platforms often lack the security checks found in legitimate stores like Google Play, making it easy for pirates to spread their hacked versions.
Pirates also promote the MOD APKs on forums, social media groups, and other online communities. They’ll commonly use savvy SEO to ensure these versions appear high in search results.
The Damage of APK Piracy for Businesses
APK piracy has far-reaching consequences that can severely impact businesses in the software industry. Losing out on revenue, adding to customer support demands, and encouraging others to take the piracy route are common damages that come as a result of APK piracy.
Financial Losses
The most immediate impact of APK piracy for a business is the financial loss. When users download pirated versions of an app, they’re getting access to the app’s features without paying your business. This means significant amounts of lost revenue from app sales and in-app purchases.
For businesses of all sizes, these losses can add up very quickly and make it financially unfeasible to continue to provide the app’s service.
Increased Customer Support Demands
Dealing with the aftermath of piracy can increase your support costs. Users experiencing problems with pirated versions may still seek help from your support team, unaware that they are using an illegitimate copy, or that the problems their app is having come from the changes made to the APK.
This additional demand will divert resources away from genuine customers and adds unnecessary strain on your support infrastructure.
Normalizing Piracy
APK piracy can quickly erode your competitive edge. If pirated versions of your app are widely available, it reduces the incentive for other users to pay for your product. If paying users know their friends and colleagues are getting the same use out of an app for free, why would they continue to pay their monthly subscription?
This not only challenges your current business model but also complicates future investments in development and innovation. As piracy normalizes, the potential revenue from legitimate sales decreases, making it harder to sustain and grow your app's offerings over time.
Malware in MOD APKs
Users who download MOD APK files do so in the hopes of accessing premium or blocked features for free. By doing so, they put their trust in whichever strangers have modified the app. In many cases, the app does provide what it offers. Access to premium features, removed ads, bypassing geo-blocks, and anything else that was promised before the download.
However, malware is rife in these files. There’s a huge number of people who hack and modify APK files, and quietly add harmful files to the download.
For a business, it may be tempting to view this as a sort of justice. Users who download illegal files to bypass paywalls, who then become victim to malware, should have known better.
But, no business should want their name associated with harmful files. Abusing a brand in this way should be an unacceptable practice, whether or not the victims made poor decisions beforehand.
How To Stop APK Modding Threats
Actively monitoring the internet for pirated copies of your app and working to have them removed is an effective, though imperfect method of combating APK piracy. Either by searching yourself or utilizing web crawling tools, finding and removing unauthorized distributions of your app across various platforms is one way of mitigating the spread of MOD APKs.
Once identified, you can take swift action to have these copies removed through DMCA or trademark takedown notices. Many sites will have simple procedures for submitting these requests, though it’ll be a greater challenge on private messaging apps.
The AI Solution
While technology has made it easier to crack, modify, and distribute pirated software, there are solutions on the other side that are agile and powerful enough to find and remove MOD APKs in minutes.
AI-powered brand protection has become a game-changer against digital piracy. MarqVision’s advanced AI model can quickly identify and remove instances of pirated apps, mitigating damage before it occurs.
By leveraging MarqVision’s AI-driven platform, your business can significantly reduce the impact of APK piracy, ensuring your revenue and reputation aren’t eroded by a seemingly unstoppable flood of app piracy.
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