Threads Counterfeit App: A Fictitious and Hazardous Imitation Emerges Already

Threads Counterfeit App: A Fictitious and Hazardous Imitation Emerges Already

While Threads, the Instagram-inspired rival of Twitter, is yet to receive an official launch in Europe, clone applications have already made their appearance on the bustling App Store. Their objective? Depleting the users' monetary resources.

Threads, the Meta-fueled adversary of Twitter, embarks on an electrifying journey, posing a grave menace to Elon Musk. A mere five days subsequent to its inception, this social network surpasses the milestone of 100 million users, as validated by the Quiver Quantitative statistics on Monday, July 10. It is pertinent to note that Threads has not yet attained the status of an official launch within European territories, owing to its failure to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

 Nevertheless, one can circumvent this limitation and obtain Threads via a workaround, albeit not without taking risks. Despite its user count still trailing far behind Twitter's 350 million, Threads draws strength from Meta's influence and its amalgamation with Instagram, which boasts a staggering two billion active users, propelling it forward. Alas, it didn't take long for malevolent entities to seize upon this triumph and spawn counterfeit applications aimed at plundering users' finances.

Threads Counterfeit App: A Doppelgänger Lurking for Your Wallet

As astutely observed by BFMTV, an application bearing the name "Threads for Insta" currently secures the fifth position in the hierarchy of free applications, reigning as the number one in the "Social Networking" category on the French App Store, even in the absence of the authentic Threads app. However, this app is not the brainchild of Meta but rather a brainchild of SocialKit LTD, a company curiously responsible for a counterfeit ChatGPT application as well. The app's logo cunningly deviates from the official Threads logo, which showcases a stylized white "at" symbol set against a pitch-black background. Instead, the developers opted for a rosy backdrop reminiscent of Instagram.

Upon perusing the screenshots provided on the App Store, one swiftly discovers that the user interface and presented functionalities of Threads for Insta diverge from those of Meta. For instance, Threads for Insta asserts its employment of artificial intelligence in generating posts, aptly dubbed threads. Although the official Threads app does not encompass such a feature, this claim maintains a semblance of credibility, as artificial intelligence has pervaded other social media platforms, Snapchat's My AI and TikTok's forthcoming Tako being prime examples.

Threads Counterfeit App: Exorbitant Invoices Reaching Up to 90 Euros

Unlike its genuine social network counterpart, this particular iteration of Threads does not come free of charge. It falls under the treacherous classification of fleeceware, a pernicious breed of mobile applications entailing concealed and frequently extortionate subscription fees. Following the culmination of the preliminary trial period, users find themselves obligated to remunerate in order to perpetuate their usage of the app. 

The app's description expounds, The gratuitous trial phase automatically transitions into a remunerated subscription unless cancellation transpires at least 24 hours prior to the trial's conclusion. Needless to say, users often overlook this vital caveat. The app provides a selection of subscription options: a weekly subscription priced at 2.99 euros, a monthly subscription valued at 29.99 euros, and an annual subscription amounting to 89.99 euros—a far cry from affordability!

Despite a handful of remarks on the App Store alerting others to the existence of this ruse, with some unfortunate souls confessing to having fallen victim and paid for a year-long subscription prior to discerning the deception, the app surprisingly maintains an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. This can potentially engender a misguided sense of confidence among prospective users as they initiate the downloading process. What proves disconcerting is that Threads for Insta has successfully navigated Apple's rigorous review process on multiple occasions, thereby securing its rightful place within the App Store. 

Apple, renowned for its stringent policies, has not raised any concerns pertaining to the app's act of impersonation, its subscription model, or its overall functionality. Consequently, this disconcerting revelation casts a shadow of doubt over Apple's application validation process, particularly considering this is not the initial instance of such circumstances. The key takeaway here is that downloading an app from an official store in no way guarantees one's safety!