Jakarta –
iOS and Apple App Store known as a closed ecosystem that promotes user privacy and security. But again, an iOS application was found that had earned USD 1 million or around Rp.14 billion from tricking users.
This application was discovered by Kosta Eleftheriou, a FlickType application developer who is currently suing Apple because of a scam application on iOS. The case involves a cloned application that imitates the application it made and is used to deceive users.
The app that Eleftheriou found was called StringVPN. He found the application had violated several App Store rules, charged a subscription fee of USD 9.99 per week and did not have an official website, as quoted by Apple Insider, Thursday (8/4/2021).
This app also displays fake reviews on the App Store that appear at the very top because it contains five stars. In a pop-up ad on Safari, this app even claims to be ‘recommended by Apple’.
Of all the problems Eleftheriou has found, this app should not be installed on App Store because it has tricked users into millions of dollars. Apple usually reviews new apps very closely before they can appear on the App Store.
According to Eleftheriou, if the App Store is really safe for consumers and becomes a ‘walled garden’ as it is being promoted, then rogue and fake apps like this shouldn’t be able to pass the assessment process.
Apple themselves say that they use human admins to check all the apps that are listed on the App Store to make sure the apps can work properly, respect user privacy, and are free from inappropriate content.
The presence of the conman application on App Store clearly violates Apple’s privacy and security policies. Since this is not the first time rogue apps have been discovered on iOS, Apple may focus on removing malicious apps like this in the future.
Watch Video “Apple Will Kick Apps That Violate Privacy Features“
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