Fake Fortnite apps for Android are already spreading malware

Cybercriminals take advantage of the slightest opportunity to endorse us with some malware package So on this occasion, and with a release as important as the of Fortnite for Android, they could not be less. Until now, the trending game has only been available for iOS, but last week, Epic Games and Samsung announced the arrival of Fortnite for Android exclusively for certain devices from the manufacturer.

So it is not strange that those who are wanting to have the game on their mobile, allow themselves to be fooled by any application that promises to bring Fortnite to their mobile But be very careful with the downloads. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of this circumstance to make a killing. And it's already starting to show.

As if this were not enough, Epic Games has flatly refused to include Fortnite as a download in the Google Play Store. This will force to anyone who wants to download the game – when it is available for all Android users, of course – to download it from the official Epic website. This is called sideloading and security experts have not been very amused.

The fact is that in the last week, WIRED has discovered up to seven web pages announcing the possibility of downloading Fortnite for AndroidSomething that, for what we indicated above, is still impossible. Unless you have a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 in your hands.

After extensive analysis by security company Lookout, it has been found that These sites are specifically designed to distribute malware through deception In this way, any unsuspecting person who dares to download this supposed version of Fortnite for Android will be irremediably infected.

Watch out for downloads: Fortnite for Android is not available

Unfortunately, Fortnite for Android is not yet available to common users. For three months it will be an exclusive operating game for owners of Samsung flagships. The rest will have to wait.

This means that any download with which they promise to install Fortnite for an Android mobile (outside of Samsung) will be a complete scam. A scam that is likely to contain malware and therefore can harm your device and is likely to harm you as well.

The discovery of these sites with viruses linked to a supposed Fortnite for Android serves, at least, to warn all those fans of the game of the riskswho want to download it now on their mobile.The first recommendation is clear: you have to wait for Epic Games to officially announce the availability of the game for all Android phones.

The second one will also be useful for when the game is already available. And it is that you only have to download the Fortnite application from the official website of the developer.

The risk of downloading outside the official store

Creating a rogue application,that works or looks similar to the original, can be relatively easy for skilled hackers. According to Check Point experts, this is a fairly widespread practice and in fact, it would not be the first time that a fraudulent application sneaks into an official store.

If we add to this that Fornite for Android will not be available in the official Google store, the danger increases exponentially.Because despite occasional failures, the controls against malware in the Google Play Store are particularly tight and aggressive.

Unfortunately, Epic Games has decided to dispense with the umbrella of the Google Play Store, a space that comes in handy for developers to promote applications, but requires a subscription of 30% of the profits obtained. There are reports that Fortnite earns 2 million dollars daily. It becomes evident, then, that Epic Games does not need to be under the protection of Google to reach users. Too bad that comes at a price for the safety of fans of the game.