Hidden security risks of mobile apps
July 26, 2012 by Network Security
Filed under Android
Appthority throw a focus on the invisible behaviors of the top free mobile phone applications. The review shows the protection problems brought up by the BYOD activity, app market fragmentation for designers, popular app groups and the sensitive information that applications can access.
The Appthority Platform analyzed the top 50 free apps from Apple’s App Store and Google Play for risky app behaviors:
- Both the iOS and Android app market are very fragmented when it comes to developers. From the top 50 free apps, 92 % of iOS apps and 66 % of Android apps are made by unique developers.
- Game playing is the most popular app category overall, making up 50 % of the top iOS applications and 20 % of the top Android system applications. Game playing also symbolizes the category that has the most entry to sensitive individual information.
- 96% of iOS apps and 84% of Android apps have the ability to access sensitive information (ad networks and/or analytics, contact information, calendar details, or location) from the device.
- While gaming apps tend to have more access to sensitive information, a vast majority of business apps used for business, healthcare, and finance also have visibility into that information.
“As employees bring their own smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices into the workplace, they’re introducing new security risks to the enterprise,” said Domingo Guerra, president and co-founder of Appthority.
“IT departments used to control technologies used at work. But now, employees are bringing apps from various developers with access to all kinds of data on mobile devices, including business and personal information. With our App Reputation Report, we’re showing the potential vulnerabilities behind the most popular apps. We want to help put IT back in control of securing company data,” Guerra added.
