‘Billions’ of your records at risk from mobile app

* Flaw leaves data stored by apps vulnerable -researchers

* Almost every category of app considered vulnerable

* Passwords, addresses, photos, medical data all at risk

* Records affected “will likely be in the billions”

Security researchers have uncovered a flaw in the way thousands of popular mobile applications store data online, leaving users’ personal information, including passwords, addresses, door codes and location data, vulnerable to hackers. The team of German researchers found 56 million items of unprotected data in the applications it studied in detail, which included games, social networks, messaging, medical and bank transfer apps.

Most such apps use services like Amazon’s Web Services or Facebook’s Parse to store, share or back up users’ data.

While such services offer ways for developers to protect the data, most choose the default option, based on a string of letters and numbers embedded in the software’s code, called a token.

Google declined to comment, while Apple and Amazon did not respond to queries. A Facebook spokesperson said that after researchers notified it of the vulnerability the company had been working with affected developers. She declined to provide details.

Security researchers say mobile applications are more at risk of failing to secure users’ data than those running on desktop or laptop computers. This is partly because implementing stronger security is harder, and partly because developers are in a rush to release their apps, said Ibrahim Baggili, who runs a cybersecurity lab at the University of New Haven.

Other security researchers say that while responsibility for weak authentication lies with those developing the apps, others in the chain should shoulder some of the blame.

Source : Reuters

More News
1: Kuwait has frozen the number of expatriates in the country
2: New health insurance system for expatriates in Kuwait
3: Expat Bachelors Removal
4: Medical fees for expats may rise in Kuwait
5: New Medical Tests For Hiring Expats
6: Fines for sheltering illegals (Via ArabTimes) , Kuwait
7: Announced to remove the bachelors from residential areas (Via Arabtimes)
8: Ban on domestic helpers from 12 countries
9: 60 days grace period for Expats in Kuwait (Via Arabtimes)
10: 3 Days grace period to help the violators (Via Arabtimes)
11: New Labor Regulations are Now Put into Practice
12: Only 6 expat families can reside in house (Via Arabtimes) , Kuwait
13: No Civil ID without Rent Contract (Via Arabtimes), Kuwait
14: Kuwait arrested 83 European Ladies
15: 433 arrested and 27 vehicles seized
16: 12 year old girl raped
17: Shepherds died by thirst in Kuwait
18: Rents of apartments are starting to decline in Kuwait
19: Kuwait agreed to reduce roaming fees
20: Indians, Pakistanis and Filipinos on top
21: Suicide Rate in Kuwait
22: 10 Arab women arrested in Kuwait
23: Bachelors in Kuwait will be deported if they return after eviction
24: 2 days off for nurses (Via Arabtimes)
25: Kuwait unveils new landmark set to become a “beacon for the city”
26: Medical test on renewal of the residence permits , Kuwait (Via Arabtimes)
27: 800 recruited nurses jobless in Kuwait
28: Thales AVANT will fly on Kuwait Airways

LABOR LAWS
1: Official paid holidays in Kuwait ( Article 68 )
2: Salary Calculation with sick leaves ( Article 69 )
3: 24 consecutive hours rest for employees ( Article 67 )
4: Working hours for ladies in Kuwait ( Article 22 )
5: Paid Maternity Leave ( Article 24 )
6: Kids nursery at work, if female workers +50 and male +200 ( Article 25 )
7: Entitles to 21 days leave with pay to perform Hajj ( Article 76 )
8: 100 days Probation period of the worker, Kuwait ( Article 32 )
9: Accommodation for workers in Kuwait ( Article 34 )

Filed in: All