One of the terms that Android users often encounter is APK. So is it a crime to install an APK? What are the legal responsibilities?
The debate about Android or iOS will never end, as the saying goes, “Tastes and colors are indisputable”. However, we know that Android is open source and offers more modification possibilities than iOS. Of course, one of the terms that those who use this operating system often encounter is APK. So is it a crime to install APK? What are the legal responsibilities? We explained in our article.
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What is APK?
APK, short for Android Package Kit, is the package file format used by the Android operating system for the distribution and installation of mobile applications. Such files can also be offered to users on third-party platforms of application stores such as the Google Play Store.
When you download an app from stores like the Google Play Store, you are basically installing an APK file. This software is then easily installed on your system thanks to the APK extension. However, most users don’t realize that the file they download is actually an APK. For this reason, the file extension is often thought to be downloaded only from third-party platforms.
Why is APK preferred?
One of the main reasons why APK files are preferred is region restrictions. Because while an application cannot be installed from stores such as the Google Play Store due to the relevant restriction, it can be downloaded via third-party platforms.
Apart from that, it is used to install an old version of an application whose features are not liked after the update. The APK is really useful in such cases.
One of the reasons why APK is so popular all over the world, including our country, is piracy, as we all know. Offering a paid application for free by making changes to it without the permission of the right holder falls into the piracy category. Let us state that we strongly discourage this way.
Is it a crime to install APK? What are the legal responsibilities?
As we mentioned above, installing an APK does not constitute a crime due to reasons such as region restrictions or update issues. However, you need to find a platform that you are sure of its security. Because we can say that files uploaded from outside stores such as Google Play Store do not pass any security checks. For this reason, it is important to have an antivirus program on your device. Otherwise, it is highly likely that you will download a trojanized application.
Installing paid apps for free from third-party platforms via APK is a crime because it falls under the piracy category. Playing pirated games and using pirated software is a crime all over the world. However, it continues to be used because there is usually no penalty in sight. On the other hand, some countries impose fines of thousands of dollars for the use of pirated software.
So what do you think about this issue? Do you think installing APK is a crime? Don’t forget to share your opinions with us in the comments section.
