Android applications are packaged into an Android Package file that contains the entire contents of the application. So we call them APK files, and it can be installed on Android mobile devices. If the APK is the installation file of an application, the Mod APK is simply the installation file of that application, but has been changed (Modification). It can be a modified version of any official Android app, from social networks like Instagram, WhatsApp, PicsArt, etc. to games like Angry Birds, Bejeweled, etc. A skilled developer can make edits to the lines of code or content inside an APK file, add or enable a limited feature of the official app, and then recompile it. Any change made to the APK file turns it into a Mod APK, although sometimes it is not explicitly stated. Is Mod APK illegal? Mod APK files have been modified and so obviously they are not official apps. In the vast majority of cases, these apps are made to unlock premium features, available in official apps that are usually only unlocked if you pay. This is completely illegal, because this is how app developers make money and copyright laws have strict regulations that prohibit editing and distributing apps without the author's permission. If the author himself wishes to pursue legal measures, the author of Mod APK can be arrested, imprisoned and fined. Technically, users of Mod APK files can also be tracked because websites can record information such as IP address, Device Platform, Browser used. However, because the number of downloads of Mod APK files is often very high, it is almost impossible to track every user who has downloaded the modified APK. There are still cases where a Mod APK is legal – if it's a modified APK file of a free app that only adds features requested by the user and is done for non-profit purposes. Sometimes it is the users of the application that will mod the APK to add new better features that the author of the application does not use. Is it harmful to use Mod APK? If you are using Mod APK for a service that requires an account registration or has paid services, this can cause problems. Some platforms like WhatsApp are quite strict about using modified APKs and regularly scan to see if users are using Mod APKs (WhatsApp Gold, GBWhatsAPP, …). Many other services are more comfortable and user-friendly. However, the risk of viruses and user abuse is always present with Mod APK. There have been many stories shared on different Facebook forums and groups talking about how they installed an infected app on Android. While even apps downloaded from Google Play can hide cryptocurrency mining code, an unknown Mod APK file created by anyone can completely contain viruses and other malicious things that you can't predict. . And this is where the problem arises: it is very difficult to find a reliable website where you can get Mod APK. All the websites for downloading APKs claim that they are safe and controlled, but in reality, no one knows how reputable they are and what percentage of the advertisements are true. . A few years ago, a Mod APK file called Apple Pie spread on WhatsApp, confusing users when it changed the wallpaper, lock screen, ringtone, etc. This is just a joke of the Apple Pie author, but it shows that this is really harmful to the user if its creator has bad intentions. You just have to imagine what malicious Mod APK files can do, such as returning to the screen or pressing a key when you enter your bank password, turn on the hidden camera, record audio, read SMS, etc. If you play online games and use this, there is a high chance that your account and password is in the hands of someone other than you. Especially when you have authorized the application to read SMS messages, authenticating online purchases via OTP will no longer be safe.
