Apple’s App Store has been up and running for years now, allowing users to download thousands of applications for their iPhones, iPads, and computers in a safe and structured environment. And while the Android App Store has grown by leaps and bounds, Apple has differentiated itself by keeping a firm hand on designers and security issues. All apps that are sold in the iOS App Store have gone through rigorous quality control, so users can download and purchase with confidence. But recently, developers looking for ways around Apple’s strict rules have gained traction, and the instances of fraud, malware and copyright infringement have increased.

Much of the blame falls at Apple’s feet. A recent spat of fake games have made it through the company’s approval process and had great success before they’ve been caught. Of course, no system is perfect, and it wouldn’t be right to expect this one to be. But the designers who put out these false apps aren’t being red-flagged either, which paints a curious picture of Apple’s entire process.

This affects users in many ways. First off, if you buy an app that is later flagged and removed, you don’t get a refund. Secondly, questionable applications will risk a user’s data. Some of that data, like photos or GPS tracking, cannot be accessed without a user’s express consent. But other data, such as contact lists, is not similarly protected. A rogue app could snag your entire contact list without your knowledge. One aspect the Android market has always held over Apple’s is that users see a full list of permissions for each app, therefore gaining the ability to decide what data they’re comfortable sharing before making a purchase. Apple gives no such information.

Another security risk present in the Apple store is malware. Last month, a developer tweeted information about an application that could be used to jailbreak Apple’s iOS 5.1. Thousands of people downloaded the app before it was pulled down. A developer with dark intentions could slip malware into the download of apps like this.

False copies of popular apps have also begun to show up. A popular game called Temple Run has become a busy target for copyright infringers, with several apps mimicking it’s name or icon. The false apps made it to the top of the purchase charts before they were flagged. With rogue apps clearly having no trouble rising in the charts, basing your app purchasing decisions on the app’s popularity is no longer a trustworthy benchmark of quality.

All of these issues will affect designers as much as users. Designers work long hours on their apps and still face rigorous hurdles to seeing their app hit the market. The fact that so many scam apps are making it through, despite Apple’s strict quality control guidelines, makes it harder for the real apps to get through and have an impact, therefore making it difficult for designers to get paid. It may take years of study at criminal justice online schools to figure out how to locate and prosecute all of these exploitative designers, but designers and users everywhere are hoping that Apple starts treating this issue more seriously.

Editor’s Note

Thanks to Evan Fischer for this quest post. He is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.