‘Adrod 13’ pretends to brick phones for the TikTok memes: Please don’t install random APKs

Android 13 is the latest version of the world’s most popular smartphone operating system, and as is the case with most new software versions, there’s always a few random scams being passed around. Over the past couple of months, “Adrod 13,” pitched as an Android 13 installer, has been making the rounds on TikTok.

What is the ‘Adrod 13’ installer?

Tracing back to a few popular TikTok videos from July and August of this year, “Adrod 13” is an APK that is positioned as a poorly-made Android 13 installer. Opening the app shows an “install” button and the Android 13 easter egg icon.

On pressing that “install” button, the screen is taken over by a message that says the “system has been destroyed” and a toast message that says “bro ur phone has been bricked.”

😳 ADROD 13 INSTALLER REAL!!! 😳

I will not download this.