Hacked by app?

I was downloading an app called 'Hotspot Shield VPN' for my iPad, as it was downloading, I went to check the reviews and all the reviews where saying the app had hacked the gmail, so I instantly stopped the download and deleted the app, it didn't full download so it didn't open. However now when I go back on the app store it has the cloud option download thing implying it's stored, how can I completely delete it and will I get hacked? I've signed out my e-mails

iPad 2, Up to date

Posted on Jul 18, 2013 9:40 AM

Reply
11 replies

Jul 18, 2013 9:56 AM in response to dcharlton50

The cloud icon indicates you have purchased/downloaded the app previously, but it is not current on your device.


You should also read the reveiws a bit more carefully. The majority of them are quite positive. While I do not use - and am not endorsing - this app, it is not likely hacking anything. Sounds like reveiws posted by folks that do not understand how VPN works.

Sep 23, 2013 10:07 PM in response to dcharlton50

Trust me guys, hackers can get to you with this program. I was using it on Sept 21st to access Hulu since I'm in Canada and I got an email saying this:


"

Your Apple ID, <my email>@gmail.com, was just used to download Age of Warring Empire from the App Store on a computer or device that had not previously been associated with that Apple ID.


This download was initiated from China."


Definitely stay away from using that program and luckily I had no credit card information on that account.

Sep 23, 2013 10:34 PM in response to YesItIsMe

YesItIsMe wrote:


Yeah, what was the point? To be uninformative? Why was is it unlikely?

The irony is that you were "hacking" Hulu in a sense as they do not provide service in Canada. You were using the VPN to get around their terms of service. So, it would be sort of poetic justice. If it happened that way.


It's unlikely because of the way iOS apps are sandboxed. Apps can't read data from other apps. Unless you voluntarily entered your Apple ID and password into the app itself (which would be dumb), it's more likely a coincidence.

Sep 24, 2013 8:09 AM in response to YesItIsMe

Your Apple ID, <my email>@gmail.com, was just used to download Age of Warring Empire from the App Store on a computer or device that had not previously been associated with that Apple ID.


This download was initiated from China.


That has absolutely nothing to do with Hotspot Shield or Hulu. What that indicates is that someone hacked your Apple ID and used it to purchase and download content on another device. However, I'm not aware of Apple sending e-mails that specify the country of origin of the potentially fraudulent purchase. That may indicate that this is actually a phishing attempt. Thus, don't click any links in that message.


First, you need to make sure your Apple ID is secured. Change the password on your Apple ID immediately (log in at appleid.apple.com), then enable two-factor authentication on your Apple ID to prevent such hackers from locking you out, if they get in again in the future.


Next, check to see if there is actually such a purchase in your purchase history. Look at your list of purchased apps in the App Store (how you do that depends on what version of iOS you're running), and show the apps "Not on this iPad." If there actually is an Age of Warring Empires app in your purchase history, you need to contact Apple to report that purchase as fraudulent. You may also wish to alert your credit card company for the card associated with the Apple ID.


If you don't see that app in your purchase history, that e-mail message was a phishing attempt, to try to get you to "log in" after clicking a link that would take you to a site mimicking Apple's site.

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