Update: The app appears to have been removed two hours after our story was published.
The third most popular free iPhone app in the U.S. App Store today is a mysterious productivity app that’s only available in Russian. That’s a pretty obvious red flag that something isn’t quite what it seems.
‘Sirius’ Pomodoro method app is not what it seems
AI chatbot apps from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google usually take up the first three spots on the App Store’s most downloaded chart.
Recently, competition from the dating reality show Love Island has put both Peacock and the Love Island USA voting app in the top charts as well. Threads and Planet Fitness are also doing well with downloads this week.
But on Friday morning, a random productivity app called Cириус broke into the top three.
The app icon looks similar to a star mapping app. The app itself isn’t available in English. It seems unlikely that this productivity app organically found its way to the third-place ranking for its advertised purpose.
The translated app description reads as follows:
“Perform any tasks with ease using the Pomodoro method. A classic timer for 25 minutes of work and 5 minutes of rest is suitable for all spheres of life: health, finances and career, life, hobbies, self-development, rest.
What you can do in the application:
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