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App Store Security Info Alert

Image courtesy of http://news.com.au

I am pretty religious about updating my iPhone and iPad apps and check the App Store several times each week. Imagine my surprise, after updating 6 apps on my iPhone, when I decide to install a new app and was met with a security alert:

I’ve never encountered this pop-up alert before, so I was immediately suspicious. After all entering my Apple ID password to update those 6 apps didn’t require this. And I am quite familiar with the process of entering my password once in the App Store and having it “stick” while I searched to install more apps I want to try out. This seemed phishy.

I’ve been a Windows user for years and the practice of scrutinizing alerts that request for password raises all sorts of eyebrows and alarms. So I declined (Cancel) and the app doesn’t install. I try to install the app a second time and receive the same alert. Cancel. No installation.

Uncertain of whether this is truly an Apple request, I decide to install a different app. Same alert. So I boldly move forward (thanks to iSource team encouragers) and tap “Security Info.”

This time a screen from Apple opens and requests three security questions and answers, and a rescue email address. A follow-up verification email later confirms it is from Apple:

So if you’re worried, suggestions are to not be. Instead, take comfort that Apple appears to be amping up their efforts to keep your information more secure.

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  • deehit3

    Hi, thanks for this information, it was comforting to see it. However, when i tried to enter my answers and tapped done, all i got was session timed out. i tried again, much faster, and still got the same result.

    so now i am unable to download apps, and wondering if it really is safe..do you have any info on this..?

  • Sara

    Thanks so much for writing this. I was thinking the same as you.

  • Liz

    I just got this for the first time today, and even though I set the new Security Info, it still won’t install my app. I tried a different one, same thing. Any ideas?

  • Painfull

    I did exactly the same double-take that you did. I even chose an app made by Apple to be sure on the second go.

    Thanks for sharing. Now I’ll fill out their form.

  • Tony Hardwick

    Read the article. 

    So what do you use as a rescue address your .me address? Or another one?

    Take care. Tony 🙂
    Sent from my iPhone

  • BreezyBree

    Hi there,

    I have just got this popup and filled in all the questions but before I could fill in all of my email address, it finished and went off, now it thinks my email is ‘i’ ? How can I go back and update/amend it?

  • AnnoyedWithApple

    I can’t even pick what questions I want to be asked.
    The security thing isn’t working for me either.

  • Gary McCown

    Trying to get an ap and answer all three questions and alternate email address but then I get timed out try again. Tried again several but get same timed out . What is procedure to get passed this so icaninstallaps?

  • Bortman

    I had the same problem. I tried about 20 times to download an app and I keep getting the session timed out, try again error. My fix was to download a free song. Google “free itunes song of the day” and then in itunes, download it. When you try to download it, you will be asked the same security questions, and this time it will work. Then go back and try to download your app… should work fine.

    • Caio

      Bortman, I have no idea how did you figure this solution out, but really, thank you.