Apple recently announced a change to their rules regarding how app screenshots are managed within iTunes connect.
Previously, once a developer had submitted app screenshots through the app review process they were subsequently changing them after their app had been approved and using different screenshots that show more popular apps.
This practice was obviously popular enough to spur Apple to take action against the scammers trying to trick users into buying fake apps.
While fake apps are usually removed from the Apple iTunes App Store quickly and customers refunded these new rules are an extra measure that could help save customers a lot of frustration and should also help protect the legitimate developers’ intellectual property.
Here is the Official Notice from Apple:
Updating Screenshots in iTunes Connect
Beginning January 9, app screenshots will be locked in iTunes Connect once your app has been approved. New screenshots may be uploaded when you submit a binary for an update to an existing app or a new app.
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13 Comments
Kathleen
Is there nothing hackers and scammers will not infiltrate for kicks or to try and steal money or identity information? There isn't a single virtual realm that hackers have not tried to exploit. I do notice that when an Operating System or some platform becomes less popular because of some hot new language or product, hackers will shift their focus on the new platform.
Michael
I read a related (or maybe it was the same story) and somewhat alarming story detailing how iTunes users were having their accounts drained by "fraudsters" via PayPal. A number of unlucky folks checking their iTunes accounts were dismayed to see exorbitant charges, and one user who called up PayPal to investigate was told that "a large number of iTunes Store accounts were compromised.
Rachel
Some time ago, I was sitting around with friends enjoying the evening and happened to check my e-mail. To my surprise, I had received two e-mails from PayPal with the subjects "Receipt for Your Payment to iTunes Store." That's funny -- I hadn't bought anything on iTunes in over a week, and the last charge had already hit my account days ago. The moral: always beware of emails you are unfamiliar with.
Harold
Wow that is amazing, screenshots to sell apps that aren't really what they say they are. This is something that you wouldn't think about really but you knew there had to be someone out there ready to steel someone else's idea. If there is anyone that can put a stop to this though it would be Apple because they have some of the best security out there.
Alfred
I don't know if this is a good idea or bad I think it is wise in some way so that the free use of some pictures and things is put to a stop but then again what does it hurt if someone uses your stuff to advertise isn't that kind of free advertising for you? I have never tried what they are talking about with screen shots but I will look into it now.
Steven
I've received emails like that as well Rachel but I know that they are fake and just trying to get me to open them because I don't keep any money in my Itunes account. When I want to buy something from there I transfer the exact amount to it so that when the purchase goes through it is empty. Is that a good thing to do, I don't know, if there isn't anything there though....
Alfred
I spend an inordinate amount of time browsing apps and app reviews in Apple's App Store. When I'm considering an app review, or considering purchasing an app for personal use, one of the first things that I do is to read the user reviews, as I'm sure many do. Unfortunately, a newly released app or an app without a lot of reviews can sometimes have fake reviews, planted by developers or their friends, to trick unsuspecting customers and artificially inflate ratings.
Mary
What a low down dirty trick these app developers tried to get away with, and they did, apparently, for quite some time. I guess the app market has gotten so mega competitive that developers and those who are marketing apps have felt the need to resort to any means in order to exploit a loophole and game the system. Isn't that the norm in the IT field?
Charles
I think this was a great move on Apples part. The scams that people set around and think up are out of this world and if they would use half the time to do some good work in the world this would be a far better place. Apple has that capabilities that others don't and to see them using it to block scammers is a great thing keep posting because this is good news.
Dorothy
Well I am sure that if Apple can create a computer like the Mac that doesn't get viruses then they can create something to stop these scammers and I am pretty sure it will work. They have done so much with technology these days that it is amazing. There is no way as a scammer I would go up against Apple on anything.
Kevin
This is just one reason Apple is in the news these days. I saw a news report that they will be making an unprecedented switch in policy - at least for them. They announced that for the first time, they will i-phone customers to trade in their i-phones for an upgrade. This tells me that they can no longer hold their users hostages as they are probably losing customers to the Android market.
Torrie
If there is a company that can block this kind of stuff from happening it is Apple. I have a Mac and it can't get viruses but I have a lap top as well that gets them all the time. So anything that Apple does I am behind and going to support. Thank you for posting this information maybe knowing it is out there will stop some of those scammers from even trying it.
William
This shows you how much pull and power Apple has for them to be able to set something like this up and make it work. I am sure other companies have thought of security measures like this before but were unable to implement them due to lack of time and knowledge. This is a great post and the more I learn about what Apple can do the more I want one.