- Jan 24, 2011
- 9,378
Microsoft is vowing to clean up its Windows Store, after a survey of the app store found many scam apps for sale that were deceptively labeled with logos and names of legitimate apps.
Last month, How-To Geek published an article in which it said Windows Store is a "cesspool of scams," with many apps ripping off logos from companies like Apple, Adobe and Google to mislead users into paying for apps that look like they are from those companies.
In a blog post, Microsoft's Todd Brix said the company has heard the complaints "loud and clear," and in response has strengthened its Windows Store app certification requirements in an effort to root out misleading apps.
Earlier this year we heard loud and clear that people were finding it more difficult to find the apps they were searching for; often having to sort through lists of apps with confusing or misleading titles. We took the feedback seriously and modified the Windows Store app certification requirements as a first step toward better ensuring that apps are named and described in a way that doesn’t misrepresent their purpose.
Brix said that Microsoft's updated app policies are being applied to all new app submissions and updates to existing apps; the company is also conducting a review of the Windows Store to identify non-compliant and misleading apps.
In the process, Microsoft has removed more than 1,500 apps from Windows Store.
"The Store review is ongoing and we recognize that we have more work to do, but we’re on it," Brix said.
Users who downloaded scam apps can apply for a refund, and developers of apps that have been cloned are encouraged to report copyright, trademark or publicity rights infringements.
Read more: http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/201...-away-misleading-apps-from-its-windows-store/
Last month, How-To Geek published an article in which it said Windows Store is a "cesspool of scams," with many apps ripping off logos from companies like Apple, Adobe and Google to mislead users into paying for apps that look like they are from those companies.
In a blog post, Microsoft's Todd Brix said the company has heard the complaints "loud and clear," and in response has strengthened its Windows Store app certification requirements in an effort to root out misleading apps.
Earlier this year we heard loud and clear that people were finding it more difficult to find the apps they were searching for; often having to sort through lists of apps with confusing or misleading titles. We took the feedback seriously and modified the Windows Store app certification requirements as a first step toward better ensuring that apps are named and described in a way that doesn’t misrepresent their purpose.
Brix said that Microsoft's updated app policies are being applied to all new app submissions and updates to existing apps; the company is also conducting a review of the Windows Store to identify non-compliant and misleading apps.
In the process, Microsoft has removed more than 1,500 apps from Windows Store.
"The Store review is ongoing and we recognize that we have more work to do, but we’re on it," Brix said.
Users who downloaded scam apps can apply for a refund, and developers of apps that have been cloned are encouraged to report copyright, trademark or publicity rights infringements.
Read more: http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/201...-away-misleading-apps-from-its-windows-store/
