Apple blocked 1.7 million fraudulent apps in 2022, preventing $2 billion in fraud
The Apple App Store — which is the only destination for Apple users who want to download apps — remains secure, as Apple maintains its stance against sideloading and strict app screening protocols and security measures. Apple has claimed that the App Store rejected 1.7 million app submissions, effectively preventing fraudulent transactions worth a whopping $2 billion in 2022.
In 2022, Apple got rid of 4,28,000 developer accounts and 282 million customer accounts related to fraud and customer abuse. Apple also blocked 198 million fraudulent accounts before they were even fully created.
It also protected users from nearly 57,000 untrusted apps from illegal stores “that don’t have the same built-in privacy and security protections as the App Store.” Apple points out that these “unauthorized marketplaces” distribute dangerous programs designed to imitate popular apps – without the permission of the developers.
When it comes to apps, the Cupertino-based tech giant claims to run multiple security checks on every app before it’s available on the App Store.
“During the development phase, Xcode systematically reviews apps to ensure that they use authorized technologies and to ensure that the app meets the App Store’s minimum requirements,” Apple said.
“After a developer uploads their app to App Store Connect, additional checks are performed to ensure that it does not reference proprietary APIs and does not contain known malware. After the review, a member of the App Review team carefully examines each submission to ensure that it meets Apple’s quality and security standards “, it added.
By providing App Review support, Apple helped more than 1,85,000 developers publish their apps on the App Store after a whopping 6.1 million app submissions. Apple’s App Review system detected apps with malicious code that could capture user login information from other services. The company also revealed apps that pretended to be “harmless financial management platforms” but could turn out to be a malicious, completely different app.
In 2022, the App Store processed a staggering 1 billion ratings and reviews, blocked nearly 3.9 million stolen credit cards from being used for fraudulent purchases, and banned 7,14,000 accounts from making other transactions.
In total, the company stopped a total of $2.09 billion in fraudulent transactions on the App Store in 2022.
“Apple takes credit card fraud very seriously and remains committed to protecting the App Store and its users from such stress. For example, with Apple Pay, credit card numbers are never shared with merchants, eliminating a risk factor in the payment transaction process,” Apple said.
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