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Fortnite for Android downloads are fakes that could be trying to steal your account

FORTNITE Android 'beta' ads are appearing on YouTube and other social media sites -- but the downloads they link to will just steal your data, account, or even worse.

The official Android release for hit multiplayer shooter Fortnite is coming "this summer", according to developer Epic Games, but it's not here yet.

 YouTube is awash with videos promoting fake download links to the Fortnite 'beta', or to a version of the full games
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YouTube is awash with videos promoting fake download links to the Fortnite 'beta', or to a version of the full games

Given only a small percentage of the game's tens of millions of players use Apple's hardware, any sign of it being more widely released on mobile is leapt on. But, as ever online, it is wise to look before you leap.

These ads point to fake Fortnite 'APKs' -- an APK is the core file for any android app -- but rather than containing the non-existent game, they contain something else.

This is often something malicious that someone has crafted either to target Fortnite players specifically or Android users in general.

that some of these apps exist to phish for Fortnite login information, while others suffer from other security issues that mean you should steer well clear.

 A quick google search also reveals many links purporting to be official downloads, and they are anything but
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A quick google search also reveals many links purporting to be official downloads, and they are anything but
 While the videos themselves don't pose a risk, the links they provide do - and just clicking to watch them puts money in the pockets of scammers to boot
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While the videos themselves don't pose a risk, the links they provide do - and just clicking to watch them puts money in the pockets of scammers to boot

Installing applications from sources other than the standard app stores requires users to turn off the default security feature which protects against this sort of thing--so if you've never done this, you'd think that you shouldn't be at risk from these sorts of shenanigans.

However, given the less-than-legitimate nature of these websites and the unscrupulous nature of those who run them, visiting them on your phone or your desktop could put you at risk at a whole host of other video nasties.

Until Epic Games releases the app officially and you can see it in the Google Play store, we'd recommend steering well clear. When a release date for Fortnite on Android is officially confirmed, we'll be sure to let you know.


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