It’s no secret that many Android
developers are struggling to make substantial revenue from their apps on
the Play Store, and it’s also no secret that Android apps are insanely
easy to pirate. Well, I hate to say this, but stealing paid Android apps
just got a hell of a lot easier, as we recently discovered an
adequately designed and completely functional hacked Android platform that allows you to download thousands of (if not more) paid Android apps completely for free.
iPhone
users who have jailbroken their devices have long had access to the
“jailbroken” app store, which is basically an Apple App Store that
allows you to download paid IOS apps for free. While I have seen some
small 3rd party Android markets attempt to do the same, this platform
takes
piracy
to an entirely new level, and is pretty much a big smack in the face to
lots of hard working app developers that are already struggling to make
ends meet. The reason I refer to this app as the “jailbroken” version
of Android is because the same jailbreak exploit that was used for the
jailbroken Apple App store is also being used for this one.
Before I go further, I cannot stress
how much AndroidPIT is against this entire scam. I debated on even
writing this article to expose this app, as it could in a way promote
piracy. But to ignore it and to allow thousands of developers to go out
of pocket is also no solution. After testing the fake app myself by
downloading a paid application that I already own (I used a separate
Gmail account), I can confirm that it’s working.
Android India is a huge (and legal)
app recommendation platform that allows you to freely browse localized
apps hosted on the Google Play Store. It lets users search apps by
region, allowing them to download apps that could appeal to them on a
geographical basis, and then redirects them to the Play Store should
they decide to purchase it. The problem is that the entire Android India
marketplace has not only been hacked, but that a separate marketplace
that can be downloaded as an apk file has also been created, providing a
database paid apps that can be downloaded at no cost.
Once you download and install the apk,
all apps (including newer paid titles) can be completely downloaded for
free, and display the status “Cracked” with a smiley face next to it (or
with the info on who's already cracked the app), as shown here:
To say that the maker (or makers) of
this app is bold is an understatement, as you can see by the wording
used to describe the hacked platform (I have removed the name of the
hacked apk file from all screenshots, so please don't ask me for the apk
file or for the name of it):
When I tested downloading a paid app
that required additional data, the license verification check also
passed, and within minutes I was using the app on my device. I also
noticed that the uninstall function of the hacked platform doesn’t work,
and that I still had to go into settings-applications on my phone to
completely uninstall it. But even after doing that, I was able to locate
the apk on my phone's memory. The app is even bold enough to display
the price you would normally pay for the app if you weren't stealing it
(which is really insulting for developers), as shown here:
Another discovery that I found really
strange is that you have the choice to install the paid app legally or
illegally, as pressing the “install” button will download and install it
to your device at no cost, and pressing the “market” button (which is
conviently located right next to the "install" button) will redirect you
to Google Play to purchase the app. Here's a screenshot showing what I
mean (again, the name of the store has been removed from the photos):
For anyone who’s too cheap to shell out
79 cents or a few bucks to support developers of great apps, you should
know that if you use this marketplace, you have no idea where your data
is going or if the apk is infected with trojans or malware. The only
thing this platform promotes is stealing, and is just plain stupid on so
many levels. While I can't provide you with an exact number of how many
paid apps the platform contains, I can say that every paid app I
searched for was found, and could be downloaded at no cost.
I find it pretty lame that so many people steal Android apps, as even high quality games/apps like Nova 3 or
Max Payne
only cost a few bucks. The main thing that platforms like this
accomplish is to create more fremium titles for Android, which is
something that enough people already hate. Afterall, if developers can't
generate enough revenue from sales of the apps, what other choice do
they have?
We reached out to Google directly in
regards to this rogue platform, and have supplied them with the apk file
and all relevant data on where it was found. We are currently awaiting
an official statement.
I'm sure there might be some peoplle
reading this who will manage to find the apk, download it, and steal to
their hearts desire. Unfortunately, that's something we can't stop. With
so many developers putting in long hours in making these apps, and with
so many worried about security on their mobile device, it's pretty hard
to believe that shelling out a few bucks for a game like
The Dark Knight Rises (which includes a lifetime of updates), is such a hard thing for so many to do.
So do the right thing guys. Download
your apps from trusted sources, support the developers of the apps you
love, and help keep those talented devs coming back to Google Play.
After all, it's things like this that drive them more to IOS, and
encourage them to develop even more of those pesky fremium titles.
Sometimes, when we chat with people online, we tend to 
