4 ms·

Some keywords need to return help topics instead. If you search "virus scanner", Apple should tell users their device really doesn't need one

tyingq 9y ago
In hindsight, this seems obvious, and a great idea. Are there any "banned search keywords" now, or is it completely unrestricted? I'm curious if there's just no mechanism for this at all, or if they just aren't using it when they should.
- kennydude 9y ago
  I don't think there is, or I haven't come across any
thirdsun 9y ago
I like the idea. A friendly banner that says "Did you know that your iPhone really doesn't need Antivirus apps? Learn more..." is a nice way to educate the user. Nevertheless garbage apps like the one described here have no place in the App Store and should not be available at all.
dandare 9y ago
One could argue to the contrary; The existence (and apparent success) of scam apps like this is a clear evidence your iPhone could use a 3rd party "virus scanner" - one that would protect you from malicious "virus scanners" :p
- kennydude 9y ago
  Can they even work? It depends if iOS provides a public API for getting a list of installed apps
  - wingerlang 9y ago
    No. The only way would be to check "openURL" for known ones, but that's limited. Or from some webserver update a list of known scam ones and just tell them to uninstall them.
    - ascagnel_ 9y ago
      Twitter does something shady to get a list of the installed apps on the device. http://danielamitay.com/blog/2011/2/16/how-to-detect-installed-ios-apps http://danielamitay.com/blog/2011/2/16/how-to-detect-install...
      - wingerlang 9y ago
        The link is 6 years old and the direct link at the bottom mentions (like I) that that particular method is not viable anymore. As for the 'check running apps'. Maybe that works still, but as mentioned it only works if the apps are running at the same time, or recently. So it would never give you a full list.

tyingq 9y ago

In hindsight, this seems obvious, and a great idea. Are there any "banned search keywords" now, or is it completely unrestricted? I'm curious if there's just no mechanism for this at all, or if they just aren't using it when they should.

kennydude 9y ago
I don't think there is, or I haven't come across any

thirdsun 9y ago

I like the idea. A friendly banner that says "Did you know that your iPhone really doesn't need Antivirus apps? Learn more..." is a nice way to educate the user. Nevertheless garbage apps like the one described here have no place in the App Store and should not be available at all.

dandare 9y ago

One could argue to the contrary; The existence (and apparent success) of scam apps like this is a clear evidence your iPhone could use a 3rd party "virus scanner" - one that would protect you from malicious "virus scanners" :p

kennydude 9y ago
Can they even work? It depends if iOS provides a public API for getting a list of installed apps
- wingerlang 9y ago
  No. The only way would be to check "openURL" for known ones, but that's limited. Or from some webserver update a list of known scam ones and just tell them to uninstall them.
  - ascagnel_ 9y ago
    Twitter does something shady to get a list of the installed apps on the device. http://danielamitay.com/blog/2011/2/16/how-to-detect-installed-ios-apps http://danielamitay.com/blog/2011/2/16/how-to-detect-install...
    - wingerlang 9y ago
      The link is 6 years old and the direct link at the bottom mentions (like I) that that particular method is not viable anymore. As for the 'check running apps'. Maybe that works still, but as mentioned it only works if the apps are running at the same time, or recently. So it would never give you a full list.