Apple announced that it thwarted massive fraud attempts on the App Store in 2025 , rejecting more than two million apps and blocking over 1.1 million suspicious account creation attempts . According to the company, these actions helped prevent more than $2.2 billion in fraudulent transactions last year alone.
Apple says its App Store ecosystem remains one of the safest digital spaces for users and developers, thanks to a combination of advanced artificial intelligence tools and extensive human review processes. The company notes that over the past six years it has prevented a total of more than $11 billion in potentially fraudulent activity.
Artificial intelligence at the forefront of security
Apple is increasingly focusing on using AI systems to detect suspicious patterns and malicious behavior within the App Store. The company's algorithms analyze vast amounts of data, identifying apps that attempt to circumvent the platform's rules or defraud users.
See also: App Store: Mysterious app updates from Apple
The cases identified included apps with hidden features, fake features, deceptive subscriptions, clones of popular apps, and spam submissions. Apple explains that many apps change their behavior after approval, a practice known as “bait-and-switch,” which requires ongoing monitoring even after they are published.
The company says that AI has significantly helped in detecting such practices more quickly, allowing human reviewers to focus on more complex cases of policy violations.
Mass blocking of accounts and suspicious developers
Data released by Apple shows the scale of the problem facing major app marketplaces today. In 2025 alone, the company disabled an estimated 40.4 million user accounts due to fraud or abuse.
At the same time, more than 138,000 applications for registration of new developers were rejected, while an additional 193,000 developer accounts for suspected fraudulent or illegal actions.
Apple emphasizes that the protection mechanisms are not only aimed at ensuring the user experience, but also at protecting legitimate developers operating in the App Store ecosystem. According to the company, the platform now serves more than 850 million weekly visitors in 175 countries and territories worldwide.
War against pirated app stores
Another major front for Apple is illegal app markets and unofficial software distribution channels. The company announced that it had identified and blocked more than 28,000 apps distributed through pirated stores that contained malware or modified versions of apps.
See also: 2025: Google blocked over 1.75 million app submissions on Google Play
At the same time, in the last month alone, Apple prevented approximately 2.9 million attempts to install or run apps distributed outside the App Store or outside approved alternative marketplaces.
The report comes as Apple faces increasing pressure from regulators, especially in Europe, to open up iOS to third-party app stores. The company has been trying to highlight the risks of unregulated app ecosystems, citing security concerns as a key argument in favor of its closed model.
Millions of fake reviews and stolen cards
Apple also revealed that it processed more than 1.3 billion app ratings and reviewsOf those, nearly 195 million were labeled fraudulent and blocked before they were publicly displayed.
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Fake reviews are now one of the most widespread manipulation practices on app platforms, as they directly affect an app's visibility and popularity.
Apple also announced that it has stopped the use of more than 5.4 million stolen credit cards that were used to make unauthorized purchases through the App Store. In addition, nearly two million user accounts have been blocked from future transactions due to suspicious activity.
See also: NoVoice: New Android malware on Google Play
Security is evolving into a key area of competition
The continued rise of cyber threats and digital fraud is making security a key competitive advantage for major tech companies. Apple is increasingly investing in automated detection tools, machine learning, and AI-based moderation to keep the App Store safe for both consumers and app creators.
At the same time, the numbers released by the company reveal the true scale of the problem facing digital platforms today. With millions of suspicious apps, fake accounts, and attempted financial fraud, the battle to protect online ecosystems is becoming increasingly complex — and artificial intelligence now appears to be the key defense tool.
