To summarize, the presence of unwanted/malicious software on a device may result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft. Therefore, we highly recommend using only official and verified sources for downloading however, even such channels require due caution.

However, that does not stop the abuse since the created impression of legitimacy may lure a large number of potential victims. The review teams can be swift in eliminating harmful apps/extensions, which makes this distribution technique lack longevity. It is pertinent to mention that it is not uncommon for cyber criminals to abuse legitimate platforms (e.g., Microsoft Store, Chrome Web Store, Google Play Store, etc.) to distribute unwanted and malicious content. This sensitive information can be monetized via sale to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit. Information of interest may include: geolocations, language settings, operating system and browser types (e.g., sites visited, pages viewed, search queries, cookies, web beacons, browsing history, usernames/passwords, etc.), personally identifiable details, credit card numbers, and so forth. PUAs (advertising-supported and browser-hijacking software included) usually have data-tracking abilities. Browser hijackers modify browser settings in order to cause redirects to fake search engines. The advertisements endorse scams and harmful/malicious software some can even perform stealthy downloads/installations upon being clicked. Bundling is commonly used to distribute adware, browser hijackers, and Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs).Īdware operates by displaying ads on various interfaces. Regular (especially freeware) program installers are often bundled with unwanted/malicious apps, extensions, tools, and other content. However, while this is a genuine piece of software – there are no guarantees that the content advertised through it will not have undesirable features, such as data tracking.įurthermore, PC App Store can be installed onto systems without user knowledge by a bundled installation setup, which may also contain unwanted or harmful software (e.g., adware, browser hijackers, PUAs, etc.).Īs previously mentioned, while PC App Store is legitimate – should it appear on users' devices without their knowledge, it is probable that other software has infiltrated it as well. PC App Store is a legitimate application that allows easy access to various software vendors.

Computer play store