Did you accidentally type a typo in the URL? Here’s why that could be a costly mistake.
These iPhone apps have scammed people out of millions
Apple prides itself on a strict app review process, but it seems even the strongest measures can’t stop scams from slipping under the radar. A recent report from the Washington Post exposed some glaring holes in the App Store’s defense. Reporters said nearly 2% of the 1,000 highest-grossing apps were a form of scam.
This news comes after Apple claimed it’s stopped over $1.5 billion in “potentially fraudulent transactions” in 2020. Despite its best efforts, Apple’s store is still vulnerable to app scams — and they cost users like you a ton of money. In fact, market research firm Appfigures says fraudulent apps defrauded users out of around $48 million.
The worst part about these apps is how hard they are to spot. They can pop up as fun and exciting apps on entertainment, news, or exercise — or they can even claim to boost your cybersecurity (while in reality, they’re just weakening your defenses). Since it seems scammy apps are here to stay, we’ve got some helpful tips you can use to recognize dangerous ones.
Of the 1.8 million apps you’ll find on the App Store, there are countless scams
Many of them masquerade as real companies, hoping you won’t notice the names are slightly different.
For instance, if you own a Samsung television, you can go to your iPhone’s App Store to download the remote control app “SmartThings.” One software engineer named Simon Willison told the Washington Post that he found an app called “Smart Things.”
Notice the difference? Two apps popped up: one with a space and one without. The copycat app, “Smart Things,” will charge you $19. Fall for the trick and you’ve lost money as well as your faith in Apple’s review process.
Willison told the Washington Post his trust in Apple’s review process tricked him into dropping his hard-earned cash. By assuming the App Store was thorough enough to recognize and expel fake apps masquerading as the real deal, he was down $19.
“I thought, ‘Wow, Samsung has gone downhill. They’re nickel and diming me for my remote control?'”
Let this be a lesson to you. When you’re looking up apps, don’t let your eyes glaze over the titles. Many copycat apps rely on you not double-checking the title. That’s an easy way for you to fall into big trouble.
Misspellings, strange spaces and typos are all signs you’re dealing with a fake app
It’s similar to the concept of typosquatting. It’s also known as URL hijacking when a bad faith actor misspells a popular domain name to garner traffic and scam visitors. They’re banking on users misspelling URLs and other important information on the web.
Watch out: Your typos can actually cost you money
There are plenty of mistakes that can cost you money. One small slip can add an extra zero to a peer-to-peer payment or a decimal point to a sloppy invoice.
Human error isn’t the only costly mistake you can make, either. Leaving your personal information or accounts open to cybercriminals or hackers can also be an expensive error. It happens more often than you’d expect, too. Tap or click for steps to make sure hackers cannot access your home network and files.
Two-factor authentication is vulnerable to this new type of attack
Two-factor authentication has long been touted as one of the best ways to make sure you are staying secure online. But recently it seems that this tried-and-true way to stay safe has been beaten by hackers. They are using this knowledge to break into people’s accounts and steal their information. Here’s how to make sure you are safe from this hack.