Summary: There may be multiple similar bad software
A few days ago, the entry "Apple Store now yellow software disguised as learning software" appeared on Weibo hot search.
The Apple Store appeared in the Huanghuang APP
On October 7, according to media reports, some netizens found a pornographic software disguised as learning software in the Apple App Store, which was in the "education" category, and the age rating was 4 years old and above, ranking 26th in the education rankings.
At first glance, the software download page looks like normal learning software. However, after downloading, pornographic content appears when clicked, and the page reminds you to download other software and there is an entrance to the gambling site.
The message released under the software rating is "Everyone who understands understands".
After the incident was exposed, Apple did not act, and the search found that the software could still be downloaded and installed. Many netizens urged Apple to remove the treatment.
Apple's official customer service then replied that it attaches great importance to this issue, will give feedback, and has a special team to deal with it. Another customer service said that the removal of related software will take a certain amount of time, and the follow-up can pay attention to the latest news on Apple's official website.
The relevant software was still available on the afternoon of the 7th. Until about 5:30 p.m. on the 7th, the Nandu reporter searched again and saw that the Apple Store had removed the relevant yellow software.
Or there may be multiple similar bad software
In this regard, many netizens said that this kind of camouflage software is very easy to mislead users, especially for children with relatively weak discrimination ability; More netizens questioned Apple's review mechanism and connived at the sale of bad software. It is worth noting that in the comment area, some netizens reminded that there are still a number of other suspected pornographic APPS in the Apple App Store, and Apple officials have not responded positively. In fact, as early as July 2022, Apple was exposed to a large number of pornographic apps in the app store. These pornographic apps are not only disguised as short videos, social apps, and even some are disguised as children's apps - very similar to the situation today. Going back in time, in September 2011, the Apple App Store was exposed for allegedly pornographic apps appearing on the app download list; In April 2013, the Office of the National Working Group for "Eliminating Pornography and Combating Illegal Activities" announced that 198 websites containing obscene and pornographic information, including the Apple App Store, had been investigated and dealt with in accordance with the law. According to a July 2022 report by Purple Cow News, reporters randomly installed a number of suggestive software in the Apple App Store for investigation, and found that most of them were software that pretended to be social inducing recharge, and the backup mobile phone number used by the reporter to register such software was also suspected of being leaked, and began to receive promotional and harassing text messages. The reporter found that in these software, chatting with female users costs points, and video and voice calls also require large amounts of points. In addition to recharging, the platform also has channels to earn points by doing tasks, among these tasks, the points that can be obtained by improving the profile are pitiful, and the points obtained by downloading and promoting software are the majority. However, the software recommended in the download task is either the same type of dating software or unknown software suspected of lending and investment.
Some of these software developers are companies, and if their personal rights and interests are infringed, they can find the responsible entity; However, there are also many software developers who are individuals who can only see an English name and cannot further obtain information about each other.
There are many similar applications in the Apple App Store, which shocked many netizens and immediately triggered a discussion of the review mechanism of the Apple App Store.
Is there a vulnerability in the audit mechanism?
Apple's official website shows that the general process of releasing an app on the App Store is mainly 5 steps: selecting the build version, setting the price and sales scope, submitting the app for review, applying for a promotional code, checking the status of the app and solving the review problem.
Photo / Apple's official website In response to the review problem, the "App Store Review Guidelines" displayed on Apple's official website clearly states that "apps should not contain content that is offensive, disrespectful, disgusting, vulgar or just creepy". Apple's list of "objectionable" content includes material that openly promotes pornography or pornography, including one-night stand dating apps that contain pornographic content or facilitate prostitution. Apple has clear review regulations, why can the above-mentioned pornographic apps still enter the app store? Some media quoted a practitioner as explaining that before an App officially lands on the Apple App Store, it needs to pass Apple's official review. However, many bad app developers, in the first version of the app submitted for review, do not add illegal content, but wait until the application is on the shelves, and then update and iterate the app. "This may be a loophole in Apple's review mechanism." Zhang Lei (pseudonym), a technician at a major Internet factory, told the Times reporter that Apple may have reviewed the APP through "machine audit + manual sampling". "It's all manual labor, and it's definitely not efficient enough." Zhang Lei believes that no matter how perfect the mechanism is, there will always be loopholes, which can only be constantly patched and improved. Ironically, Apple founder Steve Jobs once said: "We think Apple has a moral responsibility to keep the iPhone away from pornography, and those who want pornography should buy Android phones." ”
(Watch News)