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

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?

9 points | by _-x-_ 1 hour ago

5 comments

  • rglover 9 minutes 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.
  • k310 22 minutes 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)

  • mandeepj 12 minutes ago
    How did you find that? Any notification?
  • psynixx 1 hour ago
    I’ve been getting this too, same app same behaviour… Anyone been able to figure out what is causing this?
  • throwaway5465 25 minutes ago
    Maybe a competitor is trying to FUD them?