The Islamic State tells its faithful to be wary of duplicate apps

Islamic State militants (ISIS) have been relying on social media and a slew of in-house apps to spread word of their work. The apps also serve as recruitment posters of sorts, attempting to bring a greater number of converts to their fold. Their official apps and social media accounts were also meant to be “reliable” sources of information of ISIS’ fight and their ongoing “struggle.” Social media activism and the work of vigilantes like Anonymous has severely crippled the Islamic State’s social platform. It’s now come to light that Islamic State militants are worried about hacked Android apps spying on them. An investigation by Motherboard reveals that Amaq, the Islamic State’s in-house news agency has discovered that a duplicate version of at least one of its apps (of at least 6) has been published. Amaq has apparently advised its faithful to keep downloading the Amaq app, but only via “official” channels, and to “verify with the officially published checksums” before installation. Other “official” Islamic State apps have also come under the scanner of the Islamic State’s app developers as they scramble to get the situation under control. Motherboard suggests that the Islamic State’s choice of Android as their recommended platform is a direct result of the ability to side-load apps on Android devices. Apple and Google have strict policies regarding content and publishing an official app on the Play store or App store would result in a very swift ban. Fake or duplicate apps are a big problem when you’re side-loading, because they’re not verified by official sources and the onus is on the user, in this case an Islamic State militant, to remain alert to these fake apps. The attack on India’s  Pathankot air-force base by Pakistan-based militants was facilitated by an Android app called SmeshApp , speaking volumes of the dangers that malicious apps can pose. This time however, the shoe is on the other foot.