If the app store of Apple seems more secure than the Play Store on which we regularly find malicious applications despite the security measures, the App Store is not perfect either. Researchers from the firm Sophos, specialized in cybersecurity, have indeed identified several dubious applications, fleecewares.
Many applications offer free use of their services during a trial period, after which the users' bank account registered in their Apple account is debited from the subscription amount. So far, nothing unusual, except that fleecewares abuse this principle and continue to charge their users even if they have uninstalled the paid application. And sometimes the note can be salty. Some subscriptions range up to $ 40 a month.
An abusive practice, but permitted by Apple
Abuses that are not really seen in view of the policies of the App Store. Indeed, Apple's app store leaves the possibility for application developers to set up their own trial cancellation stages. However, some do not consider that uninstalling the application is a form of cancellation of the trial period and therefore continue to charge users. In some cases, the developers play on complicated cancellation procedures so that users opt for an uninstall of the app which will not cancel the subscription.
Applications that use this kind of questionable practices are as many QR code scan, horoscope or photo filter applications. Some are very popular. The 32 applications pinned by the researchers have been downloaded to more than 3.5 million iPhones.
Sophos researchers advise owners of Apple products to regularly check their subscriptions from their Apple account. To do this, go to the settings of your device, press your name, then Subscription and check that you do not have current subscriptions of which you are not aware.
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- Appstore
- Mobile app
- Apple
- Cybersecurity
- Smartphone
- Application
- Subscription
- IOS