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Gotta catch em all alright but beware of the dangerous, fake Pokemon Go app

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 10 February 2017, 1:49 IST

Pokemon Go has taken the world by storm since its launch last week. The game has already overtaken Tinder and Twitter in terms of users and popularity - despite the fact that the hot new augmented reality (AR) game from Nintendo and Niantic Labs has been made officially available in only a few countries.

While many iOS users have to wait, Android users can download the game's APK to get started. Users who want to download Pokemon Go may face a few geographical restrictions. But remember that a wrong download could mean a world of trouble.

"According to security firm Proofpoint, that's a very genuine possibility. There's at least on APK of the game, currently doing the rounds, that's been modified to install a backdoor to your smartphone, called DroidJack. But while the app has been subtly changed to very closely resemble the original app, there are a few warning signs you can keep an eye out for," dna reported.

The authentic Pokemon Go app from Niantic asks for these permissions:

The fake version of the app will ask for these permission requests:

Most of these requirements have nothing to do with the augmented reality game.

You can get more details on DroidJack on Proofpoint's blog here.

First published: 12 July 2016, 6:10 IST