app stores are strictly moderated, and code/packages undergo automated and manual reviews

1. Do they check the source repository?

No. Apple, Google, and Microsoft do not look at your GitHub repository or your raw source code.

Instead, developers upload a compiled software package / binary (such as an .ipa file for iOS, an .aab or .apk file for Android, or an .msix / .exe for the Microsoft Store). The app store evaluates that final packaged binary to see what it contains, how it behaves, and what APIs it calls.

2. How the Review Process Works

When a developer submits an app, it goes through a multi-layered screening process:

• Automated Static & Dynamic Analysis:The moment an app package is uploaded, automated systems scan it. They check for known malware signatures, look for private API abuse, verify privacy disclosures, and inspect third-party SDKs or software packages bundled inside the binary. If a known malicious library or a banned piece of code is detected inside the package, the automated system rejects it instantly.
• Pre-Launch Sandbox Testing:For example, Google Play runs automated pre-launch tests that deploy the app into virtual devices, clicking through it, monitoring its network traffic, and looking for crashes, unexpected behavior, or hidden malicious routines.
• Human Reviewers:If the app passes the automated checks, it often faces human moderators. Reviewers test the app’s user interface, verify that it does what it claims to do, and ensure it complies with strict content, safety, and financial guidelines.

3. What about “Unsafe Software Packages” (Dependencies)?

Mobile apps are standalone packages—meaning developers bundle all their helper libraries and software packages (dependencies) directly inside the app.

• The Blind Spot: If a developer uses an outdated or slightly vulnerable open-source software package in their app, the app store’s review system might still let it through if it doesn’t violate core platform policies or contain direct malware.
• The Enforcement: However, both Apple and Google heavily scan for obsolete or insecure code frameworks, insecure network configurations (like allowing unencrypted HTTP traffic), and missing privacy manifests. If a vulnerability in a third-party package is actively being exploited in the wild, the stores will often update their automated scanners to block apps containing that specific signature, forcing developers to update their dependencies.

4. What about Linux Distributions?

Linux works a bit differently because most traditional desktop Linux distributions (like Ubuntu, Fedora, or Debian) use centralized package repositories (repos) maintained by the distro maintainers rather than a commercial “app store.”

• The Maintainer Model: In Linux, when software is added to an official repository, trusted packagers or community maintainers often review the source code directly, compile it themselves, and ensure it integrates safely with the operating system’s shared libraries.
• Package Managers: Tools like apt or dnf act similarly to mobile app stores (they are the “package manager,” and the server is the “package repository”), but the security relies heavily on the distribution’s trusted maintainers vetting the software packages before adding them to the official feeds.