The Apple iPhone is the most popular smartphone on the market, so it would make sense for attackers to target the device. According to the latest reports, several fake apps have been popping up in the Apple Store, and this is happening right before the holiday season begins.
The counterfeited apps are here to deceive holiday shoppers, so folks need to be very aware of what's going on before they download and use an app. We understand the Dollar Tree, Jimmy Choo, Christian Dior, Foot Locker and more have been copied.
According to the New York Times, scammers are hoping to take advantage of shoppers as they seek to make significant purchases from their mobile device. This is big seeing as mobile sales rose to $49.2 billion back in 2015, and as such, there's a lot of room to grow in 2016.
What Are The Risk Of Using These Apps?
Well, Chris Mason, Branding Brand's chief executive, says the majority of these apps are harmless for the most part. Folks should expect to be bombarded with pop-up ads and not much of anything else. However, one should always bear in mind that the creators behind these apps could steal personal information.
As it stands, it's clear no one should be using these fake apps, and need to be wary when downloading from the App Store.
Wait A Minute, Where Do These Apps Come From?
The Economic Times is reporting the majority comes from China, not particularly surprising if true. For some strange reason, these apps slipped through Apple's review system, which is odd since the App Store has been quite secure. Google seems to have the upper hand now due to recent updates.
There might be a reason for these apps to slip through, and we're sure Apple is working to rectify the problem sooner rather than later.
So What Is Apple Doing About This?
The company is in the process of removing the apps from the store. We understand a significant amount of these apps have already met their end. Furthermore, it might be difficult for other fake apps to pass through since Apple is well aware of what is going on, and is taking all the necessary measures to stay on top of the problem.
Still, should things go sour, Apple's spokesman Tom Neumayr is advising both customers and developers to keep an eye out for fraudulent apps, and flag them when the time presents itself. The company also says it will investigate all fake apps, but don't expect much to come of the investigation outside of the removal of each.
