DeepSeek’s top-ranked AI app is restricting sign-ups due to ‘malicious attacks’

DeepSeek's AI Assistant, which surged to the top of Apple's US App Store charts, is temporarily restricting new user sign-ups. An incident report page says registrations are limited "due to large-scale malicious attacks on DeepSeek's services," though the article notes it is unclear how the limits are applied. An earlier update had said only registration with a mainland China mobile phone number was supported, but that requirement was later deleted, and Verge staff were able to create accounts through Google and Apple ID sign-in. Existing users can log in as usual, according to DeepSeek.