Apple Ousts Counterfeit Trezor App, Yet Menace Continues

20 views 9:07 am 0 Comments June 22, 2023

Apple has eliminated a counterfeit Trezor wallet application following its exposure by a researcher in the App Store, however, other potential threats may still exist.

A crypto hardware wallet masquerading as Trezor has been expunged from Apple’s App Store. Yet, preliminary searches indicate the continued presence of other imitation apps.

On June 20, Rafael Yakobi, the Managing Partner at Crypto Lawyers, issued a security warning concerning the Apple App Store. In his revelation, Yakobi stated that the top result for a “Trezor” search was a malignant app crafted for cryptocurrency theft.

He cautioned Apple consumers about the deceptive “Trezor Wallet Suite” app that solicits your seed phrase, thereby providing the culprits with access to pilfer your cryptocurrency. Yakobi added that, while the exact victim count remains uncertain, the numbers could range in the hundreds or thousands given the app’s weeks-long presence on the App Store.

A search by Cointelegraph on the United States’ App Store version did not find the harmful app mentioned by Yakobi. Apple is generally efficient at removing dubious or fraudulent apps from its store upon detection.

Nevertheless, a search using “Trezor Wallet Suite” presented another potentially harmful app named “MyTREZŌR Suite: One Edition”. With only two reviews to its name, both cautioning about the app’s potential to steal crypto, it’s apparent that Apple’s housecleaning may not be fully complete.

Apple stands by the assurance that apps available on its official App Store have undergone thorough scrutiny and security clearance.

The most secure method to download mobile applications for crypto wallets is directly from the manufacturers’ official website. For Trezor users on iOS, an existing app offers limited functionality.

Apple news source, 9to5mac.com, notes that the tech giant maintains a cautious stance towards cryptocurrency apps, permitting their approval under stringent conditions. They noted that despite Apple’s assurance of the App Store being trustworthy and its opposition to sideloading, the reality showcases that even Apple struggles to keep the App Store devoid of fraudulent apps.

The issue of counterfeit wallet apps on Apple’s App Store isn’t a recent phenomenon. In 2021, a user reportedly lost $600,000 in Bitcoin BTC $30,077 after downloading a malicious Trezor app from the App Store.