DRM News

It appears that iTunes accounts are being hacked in to by app developers to and use them to purchase apps. That in turn shoots the apps in question up the bestseller charts, gaining them attention from other customers through hacked account sales.

Some details from The Next Web :

-A number of iTunes accounts have been hacked from across the globe, not just the US, and used to purchase apps.

-iTunes users have reported anywhere between $100-$1400 spent using their accounts.

-The trend: buy a couple of low cost apps ($1-$3) and then one app at an extortionate price ($90+).

-Currently all the app purchased have been owned by Asia based developers with little information known about them. Clearly they feel being based in Asia will give them immunity to any US laws.

-This seems to have been happening over the course of the last 4 weeks, although MacRumors shows hacking on some level dating back to 2009.

This all came to light when one of the developers who was using this method to popularize his software was busted, and had his apps removed from the store last week.

So, if you have an iTunes account, keep an eye on your purchases and watch for anything you didn’t buy.