Apple Accidentally Lets Pirated Movies and TV Shows App Into App Store

[Luna Murasaki]

Meanwhile, in Android Land:

Over 200 malicious apps on Google Play downloaded millions of times

Google Play, the official store for Android, distributed over a period of one year more than 200 malicious applications, which cumulatively counted nearly eight million downloads.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

Apple’s vetting methods are not 100% perfect, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t working.

 

[contacos]

Apple app reviewer's are either overpaid developers or developers who can't read code but managed to pass the Apple interview process.

I doubt they literally get checked by human person unless it fails an automatic first check and needs to get checked again.

 

[VulchR]

This is why I would have preferred the EU to mandate quality control on Apple's approval process, in essence making Apple guarantee the legitimacy and security of apps and making them liable for errors, rather than opening up to iOS to third-party markets unlikely to do much in the way of any check on the integrity and security of apps sold there.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Where was Apple Intelligence? Was the store running on Macs with 8 GB RAM?

 

[hans1972]

Apple app reviewer's are either overpaid developers or developers who can't read code but managed to pass the Apple interview process.

Apple doesn't have access to the source code.

Also, it's a walled garden, not a prison. When you see someone in the wall garden who doesn't belong there, you kick them out. Apple did.

 

[francoc02o]

There are several apps like that. All IPTV apps lets you do the same, and they charge through PayPal.

 

[hans1972]

This is a bit concerning actually. What else has been slipping through behind the scene? So much for Apple's vaunted secured walled garden argument.

Nothing is perfect. This has happened thousands of times. Eventually they're discovered and kicked out, just like in a regular walled garden.

 

[neuropsychguy]

The impenetrable walled garden is still working well then 😄. The Apple Store can just be insecure as 3rd party ones, as Apple can never guarantee bad apps can't make it through.

Is that an argument against a walled garden? Would security (although this isn’t really a security issue) be better without a walled garden?

 

[Chungry]

This is a bit concerning actually. What else has been slipping through behind the scene? So much for Apple's vaunted secured walled garden argument.

Folks here like to spread doom and gloom about third party stores when it’s only ever a possibility as opposed to Apple’s ever-increasing track record with letting this sort of thing through. If anything this is a recrimination on those folks and their empty arguments as to the App Store keeping people safe and secure. Sheer fantasy.

 

[Chungry]

Nothing is perfect. This has happened thousands of times. Eventually they're discovered and kicked out, just like in a regular walled garden.

Kicked out? Eventually - sure but some remain for years. A failed argument.

Edit to add: casino gambling games for children. Apple does nothing to stem the tide

 

[shadowboi]

What a “loss”. Yet another goofy app with tons of ads got wrecked. Whole point of piracy is: minimum ads, maximum comfort, zero money spent. Other than that is wasted time

 

[davide_eu]

Apple has accidentally allowed an iPhone and iPad app that allows you to stream pirated movies and TV shows for free into the App Store, according to a post from Kevin Aubin on Threads. The post was earlier reported by The Verge.

While the so-called "Univer Note" app's description says that it "can easily help you record every day's events and plan your time," it actually lets you stream movies that are still playing in theaters, like Smile 2 and Venom: The Last Dance. You can also watch shows from streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and even Apple TV+. Oops!

It appears that the French-language app has been available in the App Store since September, but it is unclear how long the app has offered pirated movies and TV shows instead of calendar functionality. This app clearly went undetected by Apple's App Review team, and it should be removed from the App Store promptly after receiving news coverage.

Update: It appears the pirated movies and TV shows are only visible in the app in certain countries, such as Canada and France. In the U.S., the app actually appears to be a basic calendar app, which may have helped it to stay under the radar until now.

Update 2: The app has been removed from the App Store.

Article Link: Apple Accidentally Lets Pirated Movies and TV Shows App Into App Store

Do you use the word "accidentally" in the title because there has been a press release or because you are scared by the a$$le marketing department?

It has been released BY MISTAKE.

 

[Nermal]

I remember wayyyyy back in the iPhone3g days there was an app that was little more than a color "Simon" game but when you pressed the colors in the right order it turned into a tethering app. I remember being on the AT&T Unlimited plan and downloading movies/tv shows from iTunes & streaming things.

I remember downloading a calculator app that unlocked the (Japan-exclusive at the time) emoji keyboard

 

[nt5672]

That walled garden is really working well.

 

[widestload]

Booo! Missed this

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Do they even review apps that don't come from competitors?

 

[yearoftherat]

Turns out the pirated content was only visible in some countries.

Was visible in Canada before it was pulled worldwide. The app was pretty useless as the UI was in french and the movies I watched were all in french too.

 

[yearoftherat]

Booo! Missed this

You didn't miss much.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Was visible in Canada before it was pulled worldwide. The app was pretty useless as the UI was in french and the movies I watched were all in french too.

Handy in France i'd imagine

 

[rp100]

Is this really news? The barrier to viewing copyrighted content is practically non-existent, and there are far more elegant solutions that don’t require a suspicious, proprietary app.

We should be asking how many other apps made it through review that are stealing money, personal info, bitcoin, etc.

 

[mulch0629]

You should give Stremio + Torrentio + Real Debrid a try. 🏴‍☠️

And you should probably check out Vidi.

 

[Reason077]

Apple app reviewer's are either overpaid developers or developers who can't read code but managed to pass the Apple interview process.

Huh? Why would Apple pay developers (even bad ones!) developer salaries just to review apps? Reviewing apps and developing apps are two quite different skill sets.

 

[votdfak]

And you should probably check out Vidi.

Vidi is 4.99$ and you still need RD.

Stremio is free, all platform, web app too. You can use just Torrentio if you don't wanna pay for RD.

 

[RickDEGH]

This is a bit concerning actually. What else has been slipping through behind the scene? So much for Apple's vaunted secured walled garden argument.

Well, concerning for who? You? How?

 

[Chungry]

Well, concerning for who? You? How?

For all their bluster Apple is throwing stones from their immaculately built glass fortress. They aren’t in any position to scaremonger over third party app stores or claim the high road over security