According to a press release issued by Apple on Tuesday, the App Store stopped almost $2 billion in potentially fraudulent purchases last year. According to the business, it rejected roughly 1.7 million app entries in 2022 for failing to meet the App Store’s privacy and security criteria.
The announcement comes as Apple continues to face pressure to open up iPhones and iPads to third-party app shops. The European Union enacted the Digital Markets Act last year, which will take effect in 2024 and require Big Tech companies to allow alternative app stores on their platforms, providing developers a choice in app distribution and customers the freedom to download apps from several sources.
Following the passage of the Digital Markets Act by the European Union, Bloomberg claimed that Apple was prepared to allow rival app stores on its iPhones and iPads in order to meet the impending regulations. The modifications are expected to be introduced as part of the release of iOS 17 later this year.
Apple has long said that sideloading, or installing an app on a phone or tablet without using the device’s official App Store, exposes customers to security threats. Apple’s long-running conflict with Epic has likewise centered on the issue of sideloading and App Store royalties. Apple has pressed US lawmakers on the risks of sideloading, claiming that it maintains strict control over the programs in its App Store to keep customers secure.
Throughout today’s press statement, Apple emphasizes that its safeguards, especially the App Store review process, were important in preventing fraudulent purchases. Last year, the business claims to have “protected users from nearly 57,000 untrustworthy apps from illegitimate storefronts, which do not have the same built-in privacy and security protections as the App Store.” The statement effectively reiterates Google’s position on third-party app shops. According to Apple, “unauthorized marketplaces distribute harmful software that can imitate popular apps or alter them without the consent of their developers.”
Despite Apple’s efforts, it’s worth emphasizing that the software Store’s software review process is far from flawless and does not guarantee that iOS customers are always protected from frauds and fraud, or even viruses.
Apple also emphasized the security of its payment technologies, such as StoreKit and Apple Pay, in the news release, saying that it prevented roughly 3.9 million stolen credit cards from being used to make fraudulent purchases and barred 714,000 accounts from ever transacting again.
