Warning of fake copies of common applications on your iPhone

Sky News Arab - Abu Dhabi
Reuters (Reuters) - Software hackers have taken advantage of Apple's technology to distribute counterfeit versions of Sputivay, Angry Birds, Pokemon Go and other applications, Reuters reported.

Illegal software distributors such as Tutu Abe, Panda Hilber and Apple Valley have found ways to use digital certificates to penetrate an Apple-created program.

Distributors are making this breakthrough to enable companies to distribute Apple applications to their employees without having to use the Apple Store for tightly controlled applications.

Through the use of corporate developer certification, hackers provide modified versions of popular consumer applications allowing them to play music without ads and circumvent payment of fees and rules in games, depriving Apple and other legal application makers of profits.
As a result, counterfeit app distributors violate Apple's software development rules that allow applications to be distributed only through the Apple Store. Uploading modified versions violates our Terms of Service in almost all major applications.

Toto Ab, Panda Hilper, Abby Valley and Toick Boxes did not respond to several requests for comment, Reuters reported.

Apple does not have any way to monitor the actual distribution of these certificates or the proliferation of illegally modified applications on their phones, but can revoke these certificates if they are misused.

"Developers who exploit our development certificates are violating the Apple Developer Agreement and their certificates will be revoked and if necessary we will completely exclude them from a developer program," Apple's spokesman told Reuters.