DefiLlama postponed the launch of its mobile app while, over the course of months, it tried to convince Apple to remove fake phishing apps from the App Store, impersonating its analytics platform, according to what the company’s anonymous founder, 0xngmi, said.

0xngmi explained in a post on X on Saturday that the team decided to wait until all fake apps are removed before releasing the official app, in order to prevent any users from being scammed.

As mentioned, it took DefiLlama several months to remove one malicious app, but Apple removed it within days after the team downloaded it and documented its behavior of draining funds from a small wallet.

This incident highlights a recurring problem in app stores, where fake versions mimic the names of well-known brands in the cryptocurrency sector to trick users into installing untrusted applications.

Why was the launch delayed?

The main reason, as explained by the founder, was to reduce the risk that users would download the wrong app or fall victim to fake applications before the official version was available. Instead of rushing the launch, DefiLlama chose to postpone it until the counterfeit apps were removed from the store.

What happened to the fake app?

According to the published account, the first reporting attempts did not succeed in removing the app quickly, but documenting the app’s behavior after it was downloaded helped speed up its deletion. 0xngmi noted that the app was draining funds from a small wallet, which the company considered practical evidence of its danger.

How can you protect yourself from fake apps?

• Check the developer name before installing.

• Review the number of downloads and ratings carefully.

• Avoid apps that request unjustified permissions.

• Access the official app only through trusted channels.

• If the app is connected to a wallet or digital assets, test it very carefully before using it with real money.

This incident comes in a broader context of major brand impersonation attempts in the cryptocurrency space within digital stores. Previously, fake apps impersonating Rabby wallet and Curve Finance appeared on the App Store in 2024, and a fake Ledger Live app on the Microsoft Store in November 2023 led to the theft of $588,000 through 38 transactions.

For users, the most important rule remains careful verification before installing—especially when it comes to wallet apps, analytics platforms, or any service that handles digital assets.

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