Duplicate apps with different developers, same description and screenshots?

[thron]

I just noticed this today: Search results for "ninja turtles" | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United States)

This afternoon, there were two different versions of Ninja Turtles Fight. and Ninja Turtles Fight FREE. Now, I only see one (one by BoomKa Studio, the other by a different developer, but both had the same info; one 5MB, the other 18MB).

However:
School Games: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United States)
School Game LLC: .Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United States)
Nutty Games & Apps: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles FREE | Windows Phone Apps+Games Store (United States)

So, which is legit? Is there any logical reason behind this?

 

[Jas00555]

None are legit. On Google Play, it says the publisher is Nickelodeon. The reason is that Microsoft unfortunately doesn't do much about these things unless someone complains first.

 

[thron]

So all of these are insecure apps?

Why are there copies of the same apps with different filesizes; what is the incentive?

 

[Jas00555]

I wouldn't day insecure, but they're definitely not legit.

And the reason for different file sizes is because of how they're choosing to trick you. They may include a lot of fake content or they may have tried to duplicate the game themselves.

 

[thron]

Fake content, like what?

I mean, a game uploaded by anyone but Nintendo for Super Mario (for example) is *clearly* not legit.. But if its simply formatted with an emulator for WP with no other junk/spyware, I don't have an issue installing it to my phone.


So how does one keep themselves safe when downloading apps (short of the obvious: Being paranoid & refraining from downloading at all)

No known viruses exist for WP, but I also don't want rogue apps doing weird stuff to my phone.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Those need to be reported to Microsoft. http://forums.windowscentral.com/windows-apps-games/331014-place-report-fake-fraudulent-apps.html
http://forums.windowscentral.com/windows-phone-apps/312072-lot-spam-apps-need-reported.html

 

[thron]

Yeah but apps using emulators are doing the platform a service imo.

Though it is difficult to tell which are harmless copies and which have ulterior motives.

I've only seen duplicated apps like this under the games section, so far.