Tell HN: An app is silently installing itself on my iPhone every day

Post by _-x-_ » Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 4:51 AM UTC

1659447091 wrote: post #41

Do you use iCloud drive? This might be a stretch as I am taking a guess at the implementation, but apps can sync with iCloud Drive and I keep getting app folders showing up after telling it not sync but the prefs reset after certain states(not quite sure when/how)-- it then creates a new sync folder when interacting with the app again. (after having turned off sync and deleting the folder -- once it resets) I am wond…

Post by applfanboysbgon » Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 4:55 AM UTC

efilife wrote: post #40

treexs wrote: post #22

this is the plot of Persona 5

how heavy of a spoiler is this? I wanted to play it

Post by breppp » Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 4:57 AM UTC

donkey_brains wrote: post #28

_-x-_ wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I think the latter is more likely than the former. Perhaps a server side bug that's silently downloading the app on any device that's installed it previously?

But why this one specific app and no others?

Post by kennywinker » Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 5:02 AM UTC

lovich wrote: post #49

anon84873628 wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least they're exposing their nefarious plans for the purposes of... Offering people mental healthcare? It's probably just some Apple bug.

Why did a mental healthcare company have the ability to exploit this? Do you think they accidentally found this 5 seconds before their exploit was launched or do you think they might have actually put some effort into doing this since they are an organization of people.

Post by _-x-_ » Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 5:09 AM UTC

1659447091 wrote: post #52

_-x-_ wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It still doesn't make sense why the app started silently downloading itself 3 days ago when I haven't had it installed in over a year. I do use iCloud drive but do not see anything related to the app inside of it.

Did you update iOS before it started happening? Wondering if they may have introduced a regression that is now trying to re-sync everything after the last update (sync files may be hidden, I set files to always show)