In a bid to maintain a secure and reliable platform for users and developers, Apple claims that its App Store has successfully prevented over $2 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions during 2022, according to a recent announcement.
Alongside this significant milestone, the App Store also rejected close to 1.7 million app submissions that failed to meet the stringent privacy, security, and content standards.
Rooting Out Fraudulent Activities
To combat fraud and maintain user safety, Apple has taken robust measures to detect and address potential threats. In 2022 alone, 428,000 developer accounts and 282 million customer accounts were rooted out due to fraudulent activities.
This reflects a decline in terminated developer accounts from the previous year, thanks to improved protocols that prevent the creation of potentially fraudulent accounts.
Additionally, around 105,000 enrollments into the Apple Developer Program were rejected due to suspected fraudulent behavior, effectively preventing the submission of malicious apps to the App Store.
The App Store's commitment to user protection extends beyond fraud prevention. Illegitimate storefronts lacking built-in privacy and security protections are a constant concern.
Apple said that it successfully shielded users from nearly 57,000 untrustworthy apps originating from such unauthorized marketplaces in 2022.
These apps often mimic popular ones or introduce harmful alterations without developers' consent. In a display of ongoing vigilance, Apple thwarted almost 3.9 million attempts to install or launch apps distributed illicitly through the Developer Enterprise Program in the past 30 days alone.
Apple said that it implements stringent safety checks throughout the app submission process. Apps undergo comprehensive scrutiny by Xcode during development to ensure compliance with authorized technologies and minimum requirements.
Further checks are conducted during the review process to identify potential references to private APIs and known malware. The App Review team meticulously examines each submission to ensure adherence to Apple's high quality and safety standards.
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1.7 Million App Submissions Rejected
Throughout 2022, the App Store encountered almost 1.7 million app submissions that were ultimately rejected due to multiple concerns, such as potential fraud and privacy issues.
Within these submissions, the App Review team identified instances of malicious code designed to steal users' credentials from third-party services. Moreover, they discovered apps that deceitfully posed as harmless financial management platforms while concealing hidden functionalities.
Responding promptly, the App Store intervened by blocking or removing around 24,000 apps that violated regulations prohibiting bait-and-switch tactics.
Instances of app rejection based on fraudulent activities spanned various categories, including spam, copycats, misleading content, hidden or undocumented features, and privacy violations. An astonishing 400,000 app submissions were refused solely due to privacy violations, with these apps attempting to collect users' personal data without appropriate consent.
Apple investigates reported apps through its "Report a Problem" tool, taking immediate action to eliminate confirmed fraudulent or malicious apps. Furthermore, apps linked to developer accounts terminated for fraud and abuse are automatically barred from submission to the App Store.
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