How to Scan APK Files to Check Whether They Have a Virus

If you’re like most Android users, you probably download and install new apps all the time. But how do you know if an APK file is safe to install? And what do you do if you think an app might have a virus? In this post, we’ll show you how to scan APK files for viruses, and we’ll give you some tips on how to stay safe when downloading apps. Let’s get started!

How to Scan APK Files

When it comes to installing Android apps, we always recommend that you download them from official sources such as the Google Play Store.

However, there are times when you may need to sideload an app from a third-party site – for example, if the app isn’t available in your country or if you want to try out a beta version.

Before you download and install an APK file from a third-party site, however, it’s important to check whether it might contain a virus or malware. In this article, we’ll show you how to use two different virus scanners to check APK files for malicious content.

VirusTotal

The first scanner we recommend is VirusTotal. This service is provided by Google and allows you to upload a file or enter a URL to be scanned by over 70 different antivirus engines.

To use VirusTotal, head to the website and either drag and drop your APK file into the designated area or click on the “Choose File” button and select the file from your computer. Once the file has been uploaded, click on the “Scan It!” button.

After a few moments, you should see the results of the scan. If any of the antivirus engines detect a threat, you’ll see a red warning next to the engine’s name. However, just because one engine detects a threat doesn’t necessarily mean that the file is malicious – sometimes false positives can occur.

If you’re still not sure whether the file is safe, you can submit it for manual analysis by clicking on the “Send file for further detailed analysis” link.

AndroRAT Binder

Another scanner we recommend is AndroRAT Binder. This tool allows you to bind your own backdoor with any Android app. It’s open-source and available on GitHub.

To use AndroRAT Binder, first, download the tool from GitHub and unzip it to a folder on your computer. Then open the “AndroRAT Binder” executable file.

In the “File to bind” field, click on the “…” button and select your APK file. In the “Output path” field, choose where you want the new APK file to be saved. Finally, click on the “Bind!” button.

The process may take a few moments to complete. Once it’s finished, you can then scan the new APK file with VirusTotal or any other virus scanner to check for malicious content.

Keep in mind that AndroRAT Binder is a powerful tool and should only be used for legitimate purposes. If you misuse it, you could face legal consequences.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve shown you how to use two different virus scanners to check APK files for malicious content.

We hope that you now feel more comfortable scanning your own APK files and that you’ll be better protected against any potential threats. If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Thanks for reading!