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Actual damage from iTunes App Store hacks: only 400 accounts affected
A couple of days ago, we found out that a number of iTunes user accounts had been compromised and used to buy and promote bogus apps. We just didn't know what that number was. Now, Apple has confirmed that 400 accounts were affected. The iTunes servers themselves weren't compromised, says Apple. The question of how much money was lost in this scam is still open, as is the question of how many rogue developers were involved. This is probably mostly down to Thuat Nguyen, the guy who used hacked accounts to get 40 of the top 50 apps in the Books category on iTunes. Nguyen's apps were disabled quite quickly, but TheNextWeb asserted that he wasn't the only dastardly dev engaged in this kind of behavior.
Apple is downplaying the damage here, pointing out that 400 accounts is a drop in the bucket when you have 150 MILLION users. New security measures will be in place, and the App Store will make more frequent use of the little 3-or-4-digit CCV code on your credit card.
[via Clayton Morris]
Comments
5
Subscribe to commentsBootesJul 7th 2010 9:19AM
There was probably no real damage. I doubt Apple instantly pays developers, it's probably monthly.
SlappyJul 7th 2010 11:55AM
Maybe we should be giving Apple a little credit for a relatively fast response?
It seems like this only took a few days to address while banks, credit cards and others take months to respond.
ChristiaanJul 7th 2010 5:46PM
Actually, the damage to the individual can be substantial. As one of the (un)lucky 400, I have about $1000.00 in stolen money that still has not been paid back. I contacted both my bank and iTunes immediately upon noticing the purchases, and have been in limbo for a week now. Apple was very quick to respond (within 1 day), but stated that the charges cannot be reversed, and that my bank needed to take care of it. Still waiting with no results. Ironically, the theft happened after I deposited the cash to buy 2 iPads...
andycapp92@gmail.comJul 7th 2010 7:09PM
Really? 400 accounts out of 15 million can net you 40 of the top fifty apps in the books category? Am I the only one looking for a little better explanation here ?
PeterJul 8th 2010 3:51PM
I guess those 400 people "bought" A LOT of books. Judging from the poster Christiaan's experience, the total amount involved could be quite high and that would translate into a lot of false purchases.
Maybe it also shows that not as many books as you think are being bought and a small spike can skew the whole listing.