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

__-x-_ about 4 hours ago 35 comments

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Every day for the past 3 days around 1pm EST the 'Headspace' app has been silently appearing on my iPhone (13 Pro). Automatic downloads are turned off and I've updated to the latest iOS since this started happening.

I googled around and found a couple reddit threads with people reporting the exact same thing starting 2 or 3 days ago. There were reports from people on iPhone 12 and iPhone 17 so it doesn't seem device-specific.

Anyone else seeing this? Does anyone understand how or why this is happening?

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Discussion (35 Comments)Read Original on HackerNews

_-x-_•about 2 hours ago

Here's a Reddit thread of other people experiencing the same issue: https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1su82sc/headspace_app_...

cortesoft•5 minutes ago

This is fascinating. I am very curious to find out what the actual cause of this turns out to be.

Bjartr•about 2 hours ago

Based on that I'd guess either a meditation app company has figured out how to circumvent a lot of controls put in place by Apple, or it's a bug on Apple's side

a34729t•about 1 hour ago

Or it is a mandated backdoor, and someone internally objected, and made it easier to exploit than it should be, or leaked how to exploit it?

8cvor6j844qw_d6•9 minutes ago

> mandated backdoor

Probably one from the repository of backdoors "accidentally" introduced or "never" discovered.

The mechanism's there, just needs to be woven with other exploits.

_-x-_•about 1 hour ago

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?

donkey_brains•about 1 hour ago

But why this one specific app and no others?

bastawhiz•12 minutes ago

Do you have MDM enabled on your device? Does your company offer Headspace as a perk and some arcane set of sketchy business agreements led to auto install policy in your company's MDM solution?

yokuze•about 1 hour ago

Do you have Settings > Apps > App Store > (Automatic Downloads) App Downloads turned on?

I noticed apps appearing on my Home Screen I’d never heard of before. Turns out with that setting and Family Purchase sharing turned on, every time my wife installed a new app, it installed on my phone too.

That may not be your exact scenario, but I wonder if turning off that Automatic App Downloads setting (if enabled) changes anything. Could give you a clue, if so.

_-x-_•42 minutes ago

App Downloads and App Updates are both turned off. I don't have anyone else's devices on my account, just me. Thank you for the suggestions though!

COFyumo•36 minutes ago

I have the same exact thing happening. I deleted the app a few days ago when was surprised to see it in my app list.

I had previously downloaded the app but and removed it because I never used it. A few days ago I noticed the app when browsing through my app list and thought maybe I didnt delete it properly, so I made sure to delete it. Then this morning my iPhone updated software versions and I found he Headpsace app again on my home, except this time it was grayed out and waiting for me to go on wifi to download.

I just deleted it again but am equally dumbfounded

janstice•about 2 hours ago

Is your phone connected to some work mobile device management? I could imagine someone has a jinxed Jamf or intune rule that is pushing things out.

_-x-_•about 2 hours ago

No, this is my personal device. It has never been connected to any MDM.

Schiendelman•about 2 hours ago

Have you actually checked your device management settings?

_-x-_•about 2 hours ago

Yes. In Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, it says 'Sign in to Work or School Account'. Is there a different device management setting that I should be looking at?

teruakohatu•about 2 hours ago

Yes, there are alt app stores that try to get you to agree to installing a MDM

k310•about 3 hours ago

Did you ever install it, or Ginger?

An app store search also turned up "Headspace Care" (Ginger)

Ginger is now Headspace Care

It would be beyond malware for an app to install itself, since there's that app store hurdle to leap. (IMO)

_-x-_•about 2 hours ago

I installed the app in March of last year, and then deleted it the same day because I didn't want to pay for the subscription

a34729t•about 1 hour ago

I would call Apple support; you might even get an engineer call you back. I am sure they would love to know what the hell is going on.

treexs•about 1 hour ago

this is the plot of Persona 5

rootsudo•about 1 hour ago

He can be the joker we need.

rglover•about 3 hours ago

If you've ever installed any companion app on your desktop macOS, your phone will try to sync apps (I think the same with Apple TV). Caught me off guard a few times.

_-x-_•about 2 hours ago

No, I've never downloaded it on my desktop. It appears that I downloaded it onto my phone over a year ago (I got an email in my inbox), but didn't want to pay for it so I deleted it.

psynixx•about 4 hours ago

I’ve been getting this too, same app same behaviour… Anyone been able to figure out what is causing this?

_-x-_•about 2 hours ago

Have you downloaded the app before?

meloyc•35 minutes ago

jailbreak phone?

mandeepj•about 3 hours ago

How did you find that? Any notification?

_-x-_•about 2 hours ago

It just appears on my homescreen

throwaway5465•about 3 hours ago

Maybe a competitor is trying to FUD them?

_-x-_•about 2 hours ago

I would imagine that this isn't (or at least shouldn't be) possible based on Apple's security. The app is automatically downloading to my phone without my permission.

lovich•about 1 hour ago

Guess the corporations are taking the mask off.

And before anyone accuses me of being paranoid, this should have never been possible.

The fact that it’s happening shows that they always had the ability and either made a mistake to show their hand now or stopped giving a shit if we cared.

anon84873628•about 1 hour ago

At least they're exposing their nefarious plans for the purposes of... Offering people mental healthcare?

It's probably just some Apple bug.