Nearly half of mobile applications communicate with third parties, while a quarter expose information that can be used to identify the user, cloud gateway firm Zscaler claims.
Research by the company’s security division reveals that 40% of mobile apps are in contact with third parties including advertisers. It also claims that 10% of apps leave user passwords and login details unencrypted, and 25% share personal details including e-mail addresses and phone numbers.
The problem is widespread because the majority of users downloading apps assume they are secure. However, Michael Sutton, vice president of security research at Zscaler, says safety measures are often overlooked. “App stores have strict guidelines about which logos and colors developers can use, yet application security remains largely unenforced.”