Authenticating application legitimacy

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:
• obtaining, by a user device of a user based on imaging at least one optical code using a camera of the user device, data of the at least one optical code, the at least one optical code being displayed on a display device in association with an application to be authenticated for the user as being a legitimate application;
• automatically determining by the user device, based on the obtained data of the at least one optical code and on obtaining and comparing data from a trusted authentication entity association with the legitimate application to the obtained data of the at least one optical code, whether the application to be authenticated is authenticated as being the legitimate application;
• and
• providing for the user, by the user device, based on the automatically determining, an indication of whether the application to be authenticated is authenticated as being the legitimate application.

A computer system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the computer system is configured to perform a method, the method comprising:
• obtaining, by a user device of a user based on imaging at least one optical code using a camera of the user device of the user, data of the at least one optical code, the at least one optical code being displayed on a display device in association with an application to be authenticated for the user as being a legitimate application;
• automatically determining by the user device, based on the obtained data of the at least one optical code and on obtaining and comparing data from a trusted authentication entity associated with the legitimate application to the obtained data of the at least one optical code, whether the application to be authenticated is authenticated as being the legitimate application;
• and
• providing for the user, by the user device, based on the automatically determining, an indication of whether the application to be authenticated is authenticated as being the legitimate application.