The third most popular free iPhone app in the US App Store today is a mysterious productivity app available only in Russian. This is a pretty obvious red flag that something is not what it seems.
The ‘Sirius’ Pomodoro method application is not what it seems
AI chatbot apps from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google typically occupy the top three spots on the App Store’s most-downloaded chart.
Competition from a recent dating reality show Love Island it also topped the charts, both the Peacock and the US polling program Love Island. Threads and Planet Fitness are also doing well with downloads this week.
But on Friday morning, a random fertility app called Cirius entered the top three.
The app icon looks like a star mapping app. The program itself is not available in English. It seems unlikely that this productivity app would organically find its way into the third place ranking for advertising purposes.
The translated app description reads as follows:
“Perform any task with ease using the Pomodoro method. The classic timer for 25 minutes of work and 5 minutes of rest is suitable for all areas of life: health, finance and career, life, hobbies, self-development, relaxation.
What you can do in the app:
- create a list of tasks and manage them easily on one screen; select the task and start the timer for the standard or your own time; monitor your productivity analytics;
- add reports to completed tasks: photos, voice recordings, locations;
- get smart recommendations and work more efficiently;
- view the history of all tasks and achievements.
“Sirius will help you manage time, maintain instant concentration and achieve cosmic results.”
Bank VTB software is not permitted to be distributed in the United States
The reality appears to be that the app is Russian banking software disguised as a Pomodoro timer. This week’s activity on Telegram suggests that the program is actually a client of a Russian financial institution VTB Bank.
VTB Bank has been heavily sanctioned by the US government for years, forcing the government agency to rely on shell developer accounts and cloaked software to circumvent Apple’s strict ban on sanctioned entities.
The app will almost certainly be removed soon, but it’s always surprising that existing systems sometimes fail to detect such cloaked apps.
For now, the App Store’s best charts feature is a powerful indicator when something isn’t quite right. In the meantime, we definitely recommend avoiding disguised Russian banking software.
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