Scammers use Apple App Store hack to steal money, boost rankings
Apple App Store users are battling an app farm infestation. The App Store is being hacked by Apple App scammers who hack iTunes accounts to make purchases of some bogus apps. The hacks steal money from iTunes accounts and boost the App Store rankings of these apps.
Article resource: Scammers use Apple App Store hack to steal money, boost rankings by Personal Money Store
App store cover blown by greedy scammers
The App Store scam may have gone undetected longer if not for a thieving app farm developer known as Thuat Nguyen. Nguyen got too greedy and 40 of his apps within the books category showed up within the top 50 App Store rankings. Other app developers smelled something fishy and Apple pulled the Thuat Nguyen apps. Thousands of dollars are stolen by Nguyen and other App Store scammers, who are nevertheless active.
Compromised were the rankings of the app store
News about the App Store scam broke when thenextweb.com reported that Thuat Nguyen had hacked some iTunes accounts and purchased his own apps using those accounts. When their popular titles were displaced within the App Store rankings by Nguyen apps, two iPhone app developers sounded the alarm. Upon investigation numerous iTunes accounts are hacked worldwide to buy apps. On their accounts, numerous had spent between $ 100 and $ 1400. All iTunes users should check their accounts for stealth purchases of cheap apps (around $ 1-$ 3) followed by one at an outrageous price (around $ 90 ). It was reported by Thenextweb.com that hackers are also signing users up for a free app called World War that sends their money to scammer accounts.
Make an effort to protect yourself from the App store scam
To verify that you've or have not become a victim of the App Store scam, it is easy to check the security of your own iTunes account.
A procedure outlined by PCWorld goes as follows:
Click on your account name on the right hand side of the iTunes menu bar. After entering your password, click on the View Account button. You'll be taken to the Apple Account Info page where you're able to view your purchase history. From there, you can make sure that all your app purchases are ones that you've made. If you spot an app you didn't buy among your recent purchases, click the Report a Problem button. To safeguard against a compromised password, you can click on Edit Account Info to change it. Longer passwords containing numbers and special characters are harder for hackers to crack.
Scamming still is the app farms
The Apple App Store scam hasn't been eliminated with the purging of the Thuat Nguyen apps. Beranews.com explains that two other developers at least are using comparable practices. Charismaist is somebody you should stay away from 3 apps from. One Charismaist app is an apparent sonic mosquito repellent that has scammed users out of $ 100 at probably the most, although it is marked as free. Storm 8's App Store scam has in-game point purchases costing as much as $ 150. One iTunes user said there were up to $ 1,400 in bogus charges from a Storm 8 game. Still in the App store is Charismaist and Storm 8.
App store scam information
The Apple App Store scam is used primarily make bogus purchases that elevate all of the apps in the iTunes ranking so that many users will be attracted to the apps depending on their high sales. Be on the lookout for app icons that are low-res images from the web. The scammers' web sites direct users to non-existent websites or landing pages. The Next Web explained that all the bogus apps are owned by unknown, Asia-based developers. It is believed the App Store scam has been happening over the last four weeks.
More info available at these websites:
thenextweb.com
thenextweb.com/apple/2010/07/04/app-store-hacked/comment-page-1/#comment-11929
PC World
pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/200503/apps_disappear_from_app_store_amid_hacking_complaints.html
betanews.com
betanews.com/article/Apple-still-silent-as-more-scams-are-found-on-App-Store/1278363193
