The developer of the Safari extension StopTheMadness, Jeff Johnson, published a blog post on August 13, pointing out obvious rating fraud on the Apple App Store.
He used the paid Safari extension list on the US Mac App Store as an example. A program called TabControl climbed to the 12th position, but its promotional image seemed to be generated by AI, with a glaring "4.9 out of 5" rating that was clearly unreasonable. These apps, which use fake screenshots to "package" their reputation, are exploiting Apple's review blind spots to gain users' trust and downloads.
Johnson pointed out that using screenshots to show false ratings has become a common tactic for scam apps on the App Store. Some of these apps' screenshots have "obviously absurd" promotional content, yet they still passed Apple's review process and were approved for listing. He believes that when reviewing apps submitted to the App Store, Apple should include screenshots and rating displays in the review scope, rather than just focusing on functional descriptions and code compliance.
Safari Extension Permissions Pose Privacy Risks
More concerning is the identity of TabControl—it is a Safari browser extension, which can theoretically access users' web content, browsing behavior, and related system permissions. Once such fraudulent extensions are installed, users' privacy and security face real threats, which is fundamentally different from ordinary entertainment apps that inflate ratings. Johnson therefore emphasized that users should not trust any app that relies on deception to sell.
This incident once again reveals the long-standing issue of app store governance: with the prevalence of AI-generated content, the threshold for forging high-quality screenshots and fabricating reviews has been significantly lowered.
Apple has always promoted "strict review" as the core selling point of the App Store. However, when fake materials generated by AI can easily bypass the review, the credibility of this promise is inevitably questioned. For ordinary users, being more vigilant before downloading and paying less attention to "seller's photos" might be the most practical defense at the moment—and when platforms truly prioritize screenshot reviews will determine the final outcome of this cat-and-mouse game.
