Apple says its App Store security systems prevented more than $2.2 billion in fraudulent transactions during 2025, highlighting the growing battle against malicious apps and digital scams. The company says the six-year total now exceeds $11.2 billion.
The figures reflect Apple’s expanding use of artificial intelligence alongside human reviewers as app submissions continue to rise. According to the report, the company rejected more than 2 million app submissions that could have harmed iPhone and Mac users.
AI Takes a Bigger Role in Security
Apple says machine learning tools now help identify suspicious patterns, compare similar apps, and detect risky behaviour in app updates. This matters because some developers attempt “bait-and-switch” tactics, changing apps after approval to introduce harmful features.
In 2025 alone, Apple removed nearly 59,000 apps for deceptive post-review changes. It also rejected over 443,000 submissions for privacy violations and more than 371,000 for copying existing apps. Another 22,000 were blocked for hidden or undocumented features.
Meanwhile, Apple stopped 2.5 million TestFlight submissions linked to fraud or security concerns.
Massive Account Crackdown
The crackdown extended beyond app submissions. Apple says it blocked roughly 1.1 billion fraudulent attempts to create customer accounts in 2025. The company also deactivated 40.4 million customer accounts linked to abuse.
Developer enforcement also increased sharply. Apple deactivated about 193,000 developer accounts over fraud concerns and rejected another 138,000 attempted developer registrations.
Outside the App Store, Apple says it blocked 28,000 illegitimate apps from pirate marketplaces. These reportedly included malware, gambling apps, pirated software, and adult content.
Security Wins, But Challenges Remain
Despite the strong numbers, Apple’s review system still faces criticism. Fraudulent apps sometimes slip through. A fake cryptocurrency wallet reportedly reached users earlier this year before being removed, causing millions in losses.
AI-generated “nudify” apps have also raised concerns after gaining traction on the platform.
That means Apple’s latest report tells only part of the story. The company clearly blocks huge volumes of fraud. However, the growing sophistication of bad actors shows the App Store security fight is far from over.
