Bot farming- ul ar putea influenta topul celor mai descarcate aplicatii gratuite App Store

  Multi posesori de iDevice-uri se bazeaza pe topurile celor mai descarcate aplicatii gratuite si platite pentru a descoperi titluri noi si interesante care merita instalate pe propriile terminale. Din pacate aceste topuri ar putea fi in momentul de fata controlate nu de preferintele utilizatorilor ci de companii care folosesc roboti virtuali pentru a transforma o aplicatie necunoscuta intr-una de succes. Sistemul este simplu: pentru 5 – 10.000$ o companie poate garanta unui dezvoltator in jur de 50.000 de descarcari zilnice si asta ii aduce o aplicatie in top 25 cele mai descarcate aplicatii gratuite iar de acolo ea este instalata de oameni si incepe sa genereze bani. Totul se face cu ajutorul unor “ferme de roboti virtuali” care descarca aplicatiile incontinuu, genereaza un numar extrem de mare de descarcari si urca aplicatia in topuri.

I was totally SHOCKED when I heard that there were 8 apps on the Top 25 Free App store that were all promoted by them. At this point, I was pretty curious on how he’s able to do that (I was told by an AdMob sales person before that it takes a lot of money and traffic to promote an app to the Top 10). That’s when he let loose the BIGGEST FRAUD ever, he said he had outsourced someone to build him a bot farm and the bots will automatically download his clients’ apps and drive up their rankings!!! He even told me that even though I might see my app climb up the app store, they aren’t “REAL” at first until it gets to the top and that’s when REAL HUMAN players will start seeing my app and play it.

  Se pare ca mai multi dezvoltatori de aplicatii folosesc in momentul de fata acest sistem pentru a isi promova aplicatiile in App Store SUA si alte magazine de aplicatii de pe glob iar sistemul este cat se poate de sigur. In imaginea de mai sus aveti marcate cateva aplicatii care au ajuns in topuri in baza acestui sistem si daca va uitati la ele va veti da seama ca nu prea arata ca niste aplicatii care ar fi ajuns atat de populare intr-un timp foarte scurt. Apple ar fi aparent la curent cu aceasta problema si ar fi sters contul unui dezvoltator care folosea un asemenea sistem insa problema este departe de a fi rezolvata.

This was getting quite crazy, on one hand, I really wanted downloads for my new app, but at the same time, this sounds like a HUGE FRAUD. I told the guy that I’ll need to think more about it, but he then warned me that Apple already KNEWof this issue and has already taken action and banned a developer called Dream Cortex recently for botting. He said that’s why he’s charging me only $5000, it would have been more expensive before, but he’s trying to get as many clients as possible before Apple stop the botting.

  Am observat ca si App Store-ul Romanesc inregistreaza o evolutie destul de ciudata in ceea ce priveste topurile deoarece multe aplicatii care sunt in esenta tepe ajung rapid in topul celor mai descarcate aplicatii platite si raman acolo perioade bune de timp dar nu au comentarii romanesti ci doar comentarii ale strainilor. In topul aplicatiilor gratuite situatia este similara deoarece din senin apar aplicatii noi care isi pastreaza pozitia un timp indelungat desi nu par a oferi prea multa functionalitate. Daca nu as fi urmarit App Store-ul Romanesc nu as fi crezut in existenta unui asemenea sistem de manipulare al App Store-ului insa cred ca unii fac bani foarte multi din fraudarea App Store-ului.