Dec 06, 2024 13:00:00

A group of people with an average age of 72 years old who caused damage of 2.7 billion yen by 'stealth pirated apps' that slipped through App Store regulations were arrested

The App Store, which provides apps for Apple devices,

regulates harmful apps and apps that contain illegal content through screening . However, 'stealth apps' that evade screening by such methods as 'illegal content is not displayed unless a specific keyword is entered' or 'the app changes to an illegal app only in certain regions or on certain days of the week' are often a problem. According to a statement released by Taiwanese authorities in December 2024, when the operators of a 'stealth pirated app' that had been under investigation were arrested, it was revealed that an elderly group of three operators, with an average age of 72, had caused damages amounting to $18.5 million (approximately 2.7 billion yen).

Apple Stealth Piracy App Trio, Combined Age 215 Years, Face $18.5m Damages Claim * TorrentFreak
https://torrentfreak.com/apple-stealth-piracy-app-trio-combined-age-215-years-face-18-5m-damages-claim-241205/

Apps released on the App Store must follow the App Store guidelines . For example, the 'Safety' section prohibits 'inappropriate content' and 'content that may cause physical harm due to the behavior of the app,' while the 'Legal Matters' section prohibits content that secretly collects or publishes data or infringes on the intellectual property of others.

On the other hand, there are also apps that appear to be apps that do not violate the guidelines, but after passing the App Store review, display prohibited content by performing certain operations. For example, according to a July 2024 report by 9to5Mac , which provides Apple-related news, the app 'Collect Cards: Store box,' which has a description that says 'manage photos and movies,' when downloaded in some regions, such as Brazil, turns into a pirated streaming platform that illegally provides content such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+. 9to5Mac points out that this app was not discovered during the review process because it does not display any illegal content even when downloaded by American users.

How can malicious developers trick the App Store review process? - GIGAZINE

On December 6, 2024, Taiwanese authorities revealed details of their investigation into stealth pirated apps that had evaded App Store screening using similar methods. After discovering that various online communities and websites were providing tutorials and download links for the stealth apps, Taiwanese authorities investigated the apps and discovered that they contained television content managed by the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), a Japan-based anti-piracy organization. The addresses of the individuals believed to be the operators were then searched on September 6 and October 29, 2024, and illegal video apps and recording media were seized.

A statement from Taiwanese authorities explained, 'Investigations have revealed that this type of illegal app initially disguises itself as a legitimate program unrelated to video content. After passing the verification process of Apple's App Store, the software switches into pirated mode after installation when users input certain keywords or commands. The suspects used well-known websites run by individuals to publish articles and provide download links, earning advertising revenue through click-through rates.'

According to Taiwanese authorities, the three main suspects are all men, aged 62, 73 and 80, all Taiwanese. A website showing tutorials for stealth pirated apps that are linked to the app has been viewed more than 550,000 times, and the anonymous copyright owner who filed the complaint estimates the market value of the infringed content at NT$600 million (approximately JPY 2.7 billion).