In a recent announcement, tech giant Apple revealed that its renowned App Store has successfully thwarted over $2 billion worth of potentially fraudulent transactions in the year 2022 alone. The prevention of fraudulent transactions and the rejection of millions of app submissions are part of the company’s strong review policy. Let’s dive in.
Making the App Store safer
Apple shared that it had rejected approximately 1.7 million app submissions during the same period. These rejections were a result of these apps failing to meet the stringent quality and content standards set by Apple. By upholding these rigorous criteria, Apple aims to ensure that only the most reliable, user-friendly, and innovative applications are made available to its vast user base.
Furthermore, an estimated 3.9 million stolen credit cards were successfully intercepted and prevented from being utilised for deceitful purchases.
Apple’s efforts led to the blocking of 714,000 suspicious accounts, effectively hindering them from engaging in any further illicit transactions. These measures amounted to a total prevention of approximately $2.09 billion in fraudulent transactions over the course of the previous year.
Apple protects app users with security measures
Source: Apple
Out of the 1.7 million app submissions rejected by Apple in 2022, approximately 400,000 were turned down for privacy violations. Another 153,000 were rejected for spam, copying other apps, or misleading users, while 29,000 were rejected for containing hidden or undocumented features. Apple’s strict approach aims to ensure user privacy, prevent deceptive practices, and maintain a transparent and reliable app ecosystem.
Taking action
In a noteworthy development, Apple revealed a significant decline in terminated developer accounts due to potential fraudulent activity. In 2021, the company took action against over 802,000 developer accounts involved in suspicious practices. However, this number witnessed a notable reduction to 428,000 accounts in the following year.
Apple attributes this decline to the successful implementation of new methods and protocols aimed at combating app fraud within its ecosystem. By continuously refining its fraud detection systems and implementing stricter measures, Apple has been able to identify and take appropriate action against accounts engaging in fraudulent activities.
Other notable achievements
In 2022, the company rejected approximately 105,000 enrollments in the Apple Developer Program, suspecting fraudulent activities. To further safeguard its users, Apple took action against nearly 57,000 untrustworthy apps originating from illegitimate storefronts. By curating a reliable selection of apps, Apple ensures that users can confidently explore the App Store without compromising their privacy or security.
Apple blocks fraudulent reviews
Source: Apple
In a proactive measure, Apple disabled over 282 million customer accounts linked to fraudulent and abusive activity. This decisive action protects users from potential scams and maintains the overall integrity of the platform.
To prevent the creation of fraudulent accounts, Apple blocked around 198 million attempted fraudulent new accounts. The company also prevented nearly 84,000 potentially fraudulent apps from reaching App Store users and removing over 147 million fraudulent review entries.
By taking decisive actions against fraudulent activities at various stages, Apple continues to fortify its app ecosystem and provide users with a secure and reliable platform.
Key takeaways
- Apple’s App Store prevented over $2B in fraudulent transactions in 2022.
- 1.7M app submissions rejected for not meeting Apple’s standards.
- Apple took action against fraud, blocking accounts and removing untrustworthy apps and reviews.
