“Researchers from Intel Labs, Duke University, and Pennsylvania State University have created a tool that analyzes how Android apps handle the data they access on smartphones,” Elinor Mills reports for CNET. “Results from experiments on 30 apps might surprise some people.”
“When a user wants to download an Android app, a permissions screen is displayed that explains exactly what data and resources the app has access to, and users must click ‘OK’ before the download can proceed,” Mills reports. “The report suggests that users can be at risk because they are not told how the apps use their data. ‘Android’s course-grained access control provides insufficient protection against third-party applications seeking to collect sensitive data,’ the report, entitled ‘Realtime Privacy Monitoring on Smartphones,’ said.”
Mills reports, “Specifically, the researchers found that two-thirds of the 30 apps in the sample used sensitive data suspiciously, half share location data with advertising or analytics servers without requiring ‘implicit or explicit user consent,’ and one-third expose the device ID, sometimes with the phone number and the SIM card serial number. In all, the researchers said they found 68 instances of potential misuse of users’ private information across 20 applications.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take:
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “crabapple” for the heads up.]
“Android’s course-grained access control”…
They meant to say coarse-grained, of course.
“Android’s course-grained access control”…
They meant to say coarse-grained, of course.
how much ya wanna bet the os it’s self gathers sensetive data.
THIS IS WHY I STOPPED USING GOOGLE LONG AGO
how much ya wanna bet the os it’s self gathers sensetive data.
THIS IS WHY I STOPPED USING GOOGLE LONG AGO
Google’s “open” goodness strikes again. Eric T Mole, the bug eyed little rat rubs his hands in glee.
Google’s “open” goodness strikes again. Eric T Mole, the bug eyed little rat rubs his hands in glee.
Sometimes “free” ain’t.
Some way, some how, somebody’s got to pay for “free”.
Sell your privacy for “free”.
Sometimes “free” ain’t.
Some way, some how, somebody’s got to pay for “free”.
Sell your privacy for “free”.
A sampling of THIRTY Android apps?
There are that many?
A sampling of THIRTY Android apps?
There are that many?
How about iOS? Every app that wants permission from me to give location I always hit “no.” I wonder what type of info gets through.
How about iOS? Every app that wants permission from me to give location I always hit “no.” I wonder what type of info gets through.
68 misuses / 20 apps
They should say “340% of Android apps misuse your data!!!” That’s a more exciting headline.
68 misuses / 20 apps
They should say “340% of Android apps misuse your data!!!” That’s a more exciting headline.
Extremely unsurprising.
Extremely unsurprising.
Google’s Motto: Do Know Evil!
Google’s Motto: Do Know Evil!
Google: absentee landlord of mobile OSs.
As long as they’re pushing volume, they really don’t give a shit.
Google: absentee landlord of mobile OSs.
As long as they’re pushing volume, they really don’t give a shit.
Red/dark droid forces strikes again in hidden ways!
… uncontrolled Apps are the cause 🙁
Stay with da Blue iPhone Apps ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
You have been made aware: The Matrix says:
Red/dark droid forces strikes again in hidden ways!
… uncontrolled Apps are the cause 🙁
Stay with da Blue iPhone Apps ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
You have been made aware: The Matrix says:
Candy man Google gives the first one for free…hooks you and crooks you for ever to be.
Google – a tweaked evil.
Candy man Google gives the first one for free…hooks you and crooks you for ever to be.
Google – a tweaked evil.
A sample of 30 Apps !! Hardly representative now is it ??
I could pick 30 iphone apps and say all iphone apps make fart noises, which was very “suspicious”…