Is Apple really able/expected to police this at the app approval level, the scale of that is massive? I think a far better way to handle it is for devs to report copy cats and then have Apple PROMPTLY act upon a set of rules for copycats/clones.
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Indie Developer Dogged By Scammy Clone Apps Again Highlights the Holes in Apple's App Store Review Process
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I7guy
macrumors Westmere
There is no getting rid of scammy, phishing, malware in the entirety of the universe of software. This only highlights the issue and is only the tip of the iceberg if control of the app is regulated away from apple.
I've purchased, unknowingly, copies of the same app from Apple's store. When I contacted the developer, he said it was "standard practice" to issue the same app under a different name to see which marketing elements work best.
It was like those late-night "get rich quick" commercials where the huckster would send you a list of outlets for cheap ads - college newspapers, etc. - and you'd place variations of an ad for the same product to see which one got the most responses.
So it wasn't "stealing" in that the developer owned the app (maybe), but it seemed wrong that Apple would allow them to sell the same product under different names and descriptions.
It was like those late-night "get rich quick" commercials where the huckster would send you a list of outlets for cheap ads - college newspapers, etc. - and you'd place variations of an ad for the same product to see which one got the most responses.
So it wasn't "stealing" in that the developer owned the app (maybe), but it seemed wrong that Apple would allow them to sell the same product under different names and descriptions.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
The pernicious thing about the Apple App Store is that consumers trust it way more than they actually should (thx to Apple marketing), which somewhat ironically makes it one of the BEST places to run scams.
Once you’re “in”, you have access to consumers with their guard down and easy payments just a click away.
Once you’re “in”, you have access to consumers with their guard down and easy payments just a click away.
Black Magic
macrumors 68030
4jasontv
Suspended
Seems high. Of course, aside that sales tax is double taxation as should be removed entirely, sales tax should not be charged unless you own the item purchased.
4jasontv
Suspended
Android, web apps, windows, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Meta, Linux, Steam, Stadia… the list goes on. Any platform that can generate revenue, even if it’s less than the App Store, would be a lucrative option.
Isn't the benefit of the App Sptre that Apple can redress these issues when reported? If there were no App Store, the scam app would still exist (perhaps even more); developers and users wouldn't have an easy way to remove these apps or request refunds.
This developer's frustration seems to argue for a moderated and curated App Store. To shutdown these scams that get pass app review requires more users and developers to report to Apple. Apple could perhaps investigate ways to make it even easier to report.
This developer's frustration seems to argue for a moderated and curated App Store. To shutdown these scams that get pass app review requires more users and developers to report to Apple. Apple could perhaps investigate ways to make it even easier to report.
Apple have the authority to reject applications to the App store, and frequently do.
Nobody is asking them to actually pursue infringements beyond that.
Ah... you're expecting 100% perfection 100% of the time, when roughly 5,400 new apps are added per week in Apple's App Store containing roughly 3 million existing apps.
Got it.
Black Magic
macrumors 68030
Android and Microsoft options are garbage. In fact, MS is the main driver of the App Store litigation so that they can reap the benefits. XBox and PlayStation charge 30% but no one is crying?
VulchR
macrumors 68040
We're expecting service that protects the users from scams. A good start would be heightened scrutiny for apps that charge subscriptions or cost over a criterion amount (and actually Apple could set the thresholds statistically to detect outliers). Honestly I wish Apple would devote resources to detecting scams in the app store than to devising invasive local surveillance software for CSAM that is poorly thought out.
I hate to bite at your off-topic remark,I assume you were intentially trying to be provocative. But, are you suggesting that child abuse is less important than financial scam apps?
If you think Apple's implementation to reduce the distribution of child abuse images was "poorly thought out," I would think you would want them to devote MORE time, not less, to assisting in the endeavor.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
Apple seems only loosely interested in shutting down all scams due to financial incentives.
Of course they don’t “want it”… but it hits a huge gray area of “but we do make money no matter what here…” and thus they don’t seem nearly as motivated to fully staff a clean up and maintenance operation as they should be.
It’s frustrating as hell
Apple really needs to hire a "bunco squad" team. A bunch of "grey hats" who think like (or maybe formerly were?) scammers, who can think up the good ways to scam the App store and its customers, and then go actively looking for developer accounts that do such. The app review team is just not evil-thinking enough to do that.
Hajj.david
macrumors 6502a
I purchased OTP Auth because it syncs all of my accounts to iCloud so when I lose my phone or some other disaster happens my accounts arent all locked out. Plus it has super handy cross platform features
Is there evidence that Apple delays or excessively denies refunding users who report scams?
In my experience, Apple has provided the easiest refund policies whenever users report issues, technical or outright scams. As such, they only incur costs (monetary and reputational) from scam apps that require refunds.
JPack
macrumors P6
“Reviewers have daily quotas of between 50 and 100 apps, and the number of apps any individual reviewer gets through in an hour is tracked by software called Watchtower, according to screenshots seen by CNBC.”
Quantity over quality. Simple solution: reverse priorities. Use AI to find similar graphics, text and content.
Given Apple collects over $25 billion per year from the App Store, this should not be very difficult.
Quantity over quality. Simple solution: reverse priorities. Use AI to find similar graphics, text and content.
Given Apple collects over $25 billion per year from the App Store, this should not be very difficult.
BaldiMac
macrumors G3
Seems like we'd need to know how many scam apps that Apple is catching to know if their doing a good job. For all we know that could be catching 1% or 99%. Comparing them to perfect isn't really a reasonable metric.
And then there's all the potential apps that aren't ever created because of the App Store review.
And then there's all the potential apps that aren't ever created because of the App Store review.
With your inside Apple knowledge can you confirm that Apple is not engaged in that? Despite knowing that 100% perfection 100% of the time does not exist in any system where humans are involved.
VulchR
macrumors 68040
This is not a choice between children and money - don't oversimplify. Apple can scan for CSAM on their server side, or indeed they can wait for a warrant from law enforcement before scanning users' information. By 'poorly though out' I meant to say that their CSAM-detecting system is fundamentally flawed - invasive, unlikely to prevent child abuse, potentially circumventable, potentially dangerous if exploited by autocratic regimes (as it is bound to be), and an awful precedent of using AI on mobile devices for surveillance.
In any case, the app store scams are low-lying fruit that Apple has not pursued sufficiently. Surely AI would pick up characteristics of apps that would help identify scammers. Why isn't this being done?
VulchR
macrumors 68040
Not asking for perfection. Asking for earnest effort. Perhaps Apple should release the number of scam apps it has detected in an effort to be transparent about this. I'd also like to see how much human review of apps goes on (e.g., how many minutes of interaction with a human being does it take for an app to be approved on average?). The Apple ecosystem is costly compared to other platforms, so it is fair to expect something for that money. And remember Apple gets a cut, so there is a potential conflict of interest.