Are cracked Android Apps safe to use ?

What are Cracked Android Apps:

Cracked android apps are those applications which are modified by a person in order to change some of the application features , to remove a feature or to change application's permissions. As android is open source operating system, it is easy for users to modify an application. Cracked applications are not available on Google play store because they violate the Google terms of copyright and is against the play store app releasing rules. They are available to download on different websites.

How These Applications are Shared and Used:

Often, paid android apps are cracked and is shared on websites so that others can access them freely without having to pay. Many people use cracked android apps for a number of reasons such as removing ads from the application, to have some extra features, to enable locked features of a paid app. Android applications are distributed by APK (Android Application Package). It is the file format for android apps which is used to install and share the application.

Should you use Cracked Android Apps:

The cracked android apps looks cool. But a very important question arises while using such applications and that is of security. Are the cracked android apps safe to use ?
Well, the simple answer is "No". There are some risks involved in using these applications. The application is distributed from a source which is unknown to you. And you don't exactly know that what modifications have been carried out in the application. It might contain some virus, some malicious code and you don't know that what is the application doing in the background. It could be tracking your activities or stealing your data.

However, if the source from where you are downloading the application is secure and trustworthy then it could be less risky. But it is better to not take the risk at all and avoid using cracked android apps. Moreover, using cracked apps violate the copyright terms. Hence it is morally unethical to crack android apps, use them and distributing them. The developers spend many days and nights and put their efforts to develop an application. They have the right that whether they want their application to be used for free or to be paid. It is not a right act to crack applications and use or distribute them.