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Apple names top 25 apps infected by XcodeGhost as most estimates reach four figures

Apple has named the top 25 apps infected by the XcodeGhost malware, stating that “the number of impacted users drops significantly” for other compromised apps. Most security researchers now agree that the total number of infected apps is in or around four figures, with many of them still present in China’s App Store … 

Apple states that it is working with developers to get clean versions of the apps back into the App Store, with eight of the most popular apps not yet restored, including Angry Birds 2 and China Unicom’s Customer Service app.

The company has also confirmed that it is blocking submissions of new apps infected by XcodeGhost, but has not yet made a statement on its plans for removing the remaining affected apps still available for download.

The full list posted by Apple is:

  • 58 Classified
  • Angry Birds 2
  • Baidu Music
  • Battle of Freedom
  • Call Me MT 2
  • CarrotFantasy
  • CarrotFantasy 2
  • China Unicom Customer Service
  • Dark Dawn
  • DiDi Taxi
  • DuoDuo Ringtone
  • Encounter
  • Flush
  • Flush HD
  • Foreign Harbor
  • Gaode Map
  • Heroes of Order & Chaos
  • Himalaya FM
  • I Like Being With You
  • Let’s Cook
  • Miraculous Warmth
  • NetEase Music
  • One Piece
  • Railroad 12306
  • WeChat

Only apps on the App Store serving Greater China were infected.

Apple is taking steps to make the genuine version of Xcode available for download on Chinese servers, after it found that developers were tricked into downloading the fake version while seeking faster downloads locally, and has provided a tool to validate existing copies. Phil Schiller has stated that the infected apps do not allow access to user data, and this has been confirmed by independent researchers.

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Comments

  1. I’m surprised to see Angry Birds 2 on the list. Well, I never liked them because at first I was like, oh yeah, what a cool game but then when they released like billion versions of the games and not just that, even all other merchandise, I think they went too much over the line with their game.

  2. Hang on here, Sparky.

    I’ve read here and elsewhere that “Angry Birds 2” was among the affected apps, making this quite a big deal as it’s one of the top games of recent times.

    However, this doesn’t seem to be the case. Listed by Apple is the App “Angry Bird 2 – Yifeng Li’s Favorite*”. Notice the difference? Just one angry bird, and the addendum also hints at either a very special edition just for the Chinese market… or just a fake. My money’s on the latter.

  3. applegetridofsimandjack - 9 years ago

    Top 25? Why not show all of them you t00ls.

  4. lkrupp215 - 9 years ago

    Only apps on the App Store serving Greater China were infected.

    What part of this do you people not understand?

    • elilabes - 9 years ago

      Why do you keep posting that, we know. That doesn’t stop it being a problem? The reason there is even the xcode ghost is because apple servers in china because of there government and internet restriction are very slow (STILL that is no reason not to use official apple servers especially for a public build) Apple has acknowledged the slow download speeds are are working to fix it.

    • jowens1259 - 9 years ago

      Currently China is one of Apple’s largest markets.

      What part of this do you not understand?

      http://www.cnet.com/news/china-passes-us-to-become-apples-biggest-iphone-market

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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