S7 Airlines released an app disguised as a tourist guide for Siberia
By ForGeeks
The airline has disguised its ticket booking services as the “Learn Siberia” app to circumvent sanctions restrictions in the App Store. The full functionality of S7 Airlines is hidden inside the program.
S7 Airlines has made a new attempt to place a mobile app in the iOS store. The program appears in the guise of a tourist guide to Siberia with the name “Get to Know Siberia”. Activating a hidden section within the app opens up the airline’s usual services.
S7 Airlines has attempted a new attempt at placing a mobile app in the iOS store.
Functionality of the disguised app
Users get access to a profile in the S7 Priority bonus program with information about miles, status and privileges. The “Travel” section allows users to buy tickets and additional services and check-in online. “Recognize Siberia” offers related services: booking hotels and cars, purchasing Aeroexpress tickets and ordering transfers.
App disguise has become standard practice for Russian companies under sanctions, whose programs are systematically removed from official stores. Banks pass off their services as expense calculators or financial literacy guides. The publicity of this method makes it vulnerable – applications are blocked one or two days after detection. iPhone owners tend to download the program as quickly as possible, before it is removed from the catalog. Once installed, the app remains on the device regardless of the lockout.
Alternative access methods
Masking isn’t the only method of circumventing iOS restrictions. “Aeroflot has launched a PWA app, an icon on the home screen that leads to a website in full-screen mode. The user experience is almost identical to the native app, but it can’t be deleted or locked.
S7 Airlines also has a PWA version. The airline’s press service commented:
“We’re all for cool user experience, so in addition to that option, we’re continuing to release apps – to make it easier and faster for our customers to grab tickets and use all of our services.”
The functionality of the versions is pretty much the same, but the native app allows you to check booking information without an internet connection, whereas PWA requires an online connection like a web page.
