As of early 2026, a lot of popular and profitable apps in the US and around the world are made by Chinese companies This article explores likely apps malware. . These developers rely on China's strict national security laws, which could let the government get to user data that these apps collect.

Some foreign apps have hidden malicious code that can cause serious technical problems. The FBI strongly recommends that people take charge of their mobile security by limiting the information they share and carefully managing their device settings. The FBI suggests these steps to keep personal devices safe: Get safe apps straight from the official app stores. For better account security, change and update your passwords often.

When updates for your device's software and operating system are available, install them right away.

The FBI suggests that you file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if you think an app made outside of the US has put your data at risk or made your device act strangely. Victims are told to give a lot of information, such as the model of the device, the name of the app, where it was downloaded from, and the permissions it was given. It is important to report any strange behavior you notice after installing, like unexpected battery drain, high data usage, malware alerts, or attempts to access your account without permission.

When people download software from websites or third-party app stores that aren't official marketplaces, they are more likely to get apps that have malware in them. This is because these sites don't do the same thorough security scans that official marketplaces do. No matter where an app comes from, it's important to practice good cyber hygiene to protect your data from being exposed.