Apple Says App Store Blocked $2.2 Billion in Fraud in 2025
Updated
Updated · Computerworld · May 28
Apple Says App Store Blocked $2.2 Billion in Fraud in 2025
3 articles · Updated · Computerworld · May 28
$2.2 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions were prevented on the App Store in 2025, Apple said in its annual fraud-prevention report.
$11.2 billion has been blocked over the past six years, underscoring Apple's argument that its review system and commissions fund large-scale security and payment protection.
443,000 app submissions were rejected for privacy violations, and 22,000 more were blocked for undocumented features, showing the report covered privacy risks as well as payment fraud.
Apple said threats are growing more sophisticated, including bait-and-switch apps, attacks on developer credentials, and future AI- and quantum-driven malware campaigns.
That escalation suggests app-store security will require costly, near state-level defenses that smaller platforms may struggle to match.
As AI generates malware instantly, can Apple's App Store fees ever truly guarantee our digital safety?
If courts force Apple's ecosystem open, can user security survive against sophisticated state-level cyber threats?
With quantum computers set to break encryption by 2029, is Apple's 'walled garden' our only viable defense?
Apple’s $2.2 Billion Fraud Prevention in 2025: AI, Human Review, and the Future of App Store Security
Overview
In 2025, Apple blocked over $2.2 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions, reflecting its robust, multi-layered fraud prevention strategy. By combining advanced AI with human review, Apple’s Trust and Safety teams identified threats like spam, offensive content, and inauthentic reviews, while also detecting and blocking 28,000 illegitimate apps from pirate storefronts. These efforts not only protect users from harmful software but also safeguard developers’ intellectual property. Over the past six years, Apple has cumulatively thwarted more than $11.2 billion in fraudulent activities, demonstrating a strong and ongoing commitment to App Store security.