Unfair marketing of applications in the AppStore and how to protect against it

In the top paid applications of the Russian AppStore lately, it is increasingly possible to find applications that, quite simply, can be called fraudulent.

Here are three examples of similar applications (07/09/12):
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9th place - "Fingerprint scanner lock"

41st place - “Black list”

85th place - “Call the black list” (everything is the same as in the previous application, only the application icon is different).

How to determine if the app is fraudulent?

1. As a rule - the description of the application is too verbose , with many different sub-items. But it would still be nothing - but - attention: this is a mechanical translation using Google Translate (well, or Chinese Russian):

"Preventing unauthorized access and keeping your personal items in safe mode on your product."

2. Do not look at the number of stars in the reviews. But if you pay attention to them - look at the proportion of five-star and one-star reviews. As a rule, fraudulent applications have positive reviews - they were bought (ratings and reviews are left with the help of fake accounts, which we hope Apple fights with). The illustration clearly shows the ratio of unfair positive feedback and negative feedback from angry users; the middle of the feedback is not observed.



3. Be sure to read reviews before downloading paid applications. And of course write them yourself. In the world of digital content, this is important.

A few words about why the situation with getting to the top AppStore of fraudulent applications is possible at all ...

The fact is that when you look closely, these applications are “not quite” fraudulent. Due to the imperfection of the procedure for approving and updating applications, developers have the opportunity to approve applications with different descriptions and different content for individual countries. In Singapore, an application can be approved, for example, with the name "Secret Folder - Photo, Video, Note, Todo" , and in the Russian AppStore it is announced under the name "Call the blacklist" ; with other screenshots.



As you can see, the fraud is that the Russian users are offered an application that is not with the functionality that is “wired” into the original code sent to the review in the AppStore. The review sends a completely harmless “comic” application placed in the category of Entertainment / Entertainment, which does not arouse suspicion of the AppStore Review team.

UPD dated July 10, 2012:
These programs have disappeared from the TOP. Is Apple moderators reading Habr ?!