Pirated Movie App Disguised as Vision Test Snuck Onto App Store
A vision testing app named “Kimi” with a not-so-hidden pirated movie feature recently made its way past Apple’s review team, ultimately reaching number eight on the list of top free entertainment apps.
As reported by The Verge, Kimi’s App Store listing claimed that it was an app that “tests your eyesight,” but when downloaded and installed, it opened right up to a clear TV show and movie interface for downloading and watching pirated content. There was no attempt to hide the app’s true purpose behind some kind of vision test interface, which begs the question of how it made its way past the App Store review team.
The App Store description mentioned comparing two pictures as an eyesight test, watching scenery, and playing games, but none of those features were present in the app.
For an app focused on pirated content, Kimi had a fleshed out feature set. It offered top movies, search options, recommended suggestions, games, and more, with ads included for monetization purposes. The app was first approved in September, and it was available for several months in the iOS and macOS App Stores without Apple noticing.
Apple pulled the app this morning after The Verge wrote about it, and it is no longer available.
This is the second time in the last week that Apple’s App Store has made headlines for questionable app approval. Last Thursday, popular password management app LastPass raised the alarm about a fake “LassPass” app that was imitating its design and feature set. Apple pulled the app about a day after the news was shared on media sites.
