Apple continues to prioritise user safety and security within its App Store ecosystem, reporting that it successfully prevented over $2 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions in 2022.
The company says that it has been intensifying its efforts to reject suspicious apps and ensure that only reliable and trustworthy apps are available to users.
With millions of weekly visitors and over 36 million registered developers, the App Store has become a thriving platform. However, this popularity also attracts malicious actors seeking to exploit vulnerabilities.
Apple’s commitment to maintaining a secure environment has led to the rejection of approximately 1.7 million app submissions in 2022 alone. These rejections were due to non-compliance with the App Store’s privacy, security, and content guidelines.
Fraud prevention has been a major focus for Apple. In 2022, the company blocked close to 3.9 million stolen credit cards from being used for fraudulent purchases, providing significant protection for users. Additionally, Apple banned 714,000 accounts that engaged in fraudulent activities, ensuring that they could not continue to transact.
Apple has also taken measures to combat unauthorised apps and storefronts. It blocked almost 57,000 unreliable apps that impersonated popular ones or modified them without permission.
Furthermore, the company intercepted nearly 3.9 million attempts to install or launch unauthorised apps distributed through the Developer Enterprise Program, which is designed for internal use within organisations.
Account security has been a priority as well. Apple deactivated over 282 million customer accounts, and 428,000 developer accounts, associated with fraudulent or abusive behavior. Moreover, the company thwarted the creation of 105 million fraudulent new accounts before they could be established.
To maintain the integrity of the App Store, Apple has a thorough app review process in place.
Apple’s review team evaluates over 100,000 app submissions per week on average, striving to review almost 90 percent of them within 24 hours. In 2022, the team examined over 6.1 million app submissions, ensuring compliance with Apple’s guidelines and identifying any potential risks.
Apple’s commitment to user safety and its proactive approach to fraud prevention have resulted in significant progress compared to previous years. In 2021, the company reported blocking almost $1.5 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions and rejecting 1.6 million apps.
Want to learn more about cybersecurity and the cloud from industry leaders? Check out Cyber Security & Cloud Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London.
Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.
