Android: can 'free' apps access user information?
Advertising networks utilized by apps in Android devices will get access to user data, consistent with an investigation by a UK data security company.
MWR Infosecurity found that a major range of the highest fifty "free" apps that generate cash for the developer and advertisers by connecting to an yankee advertising network die details regarding the phone's user to the network – a move that will breach European knowledge protection laws. With roughly 1 / 4 of the UK's phone users using Android phones, and with many apps downloaded each month – usually at no cost, supported by advertising, instead of paid-for – the gap in security could be a supply of concern.
The study was commissioned by Channel four News. MWR Infosecurity told the programme: "We found that lots of the free applications within the prime fifty apps list are using advertising within the applications, which the permission that you simply grant to those applications is additionally granted to the advertiser. If users knew regarding this i believe they might agonize regarding it, however at the instant i do not assume they're attentive to true and the way widely their data may be used."
The EC commissioner for justice, Viviane Reding, condemned the practice: "This very issues me, and this can be against the law as a result of no one has the correct to induce your personal knowledge while not you agreeing to the current," she told Channel four News. "Maybe you would like someone to induce this knowledge and agree and it's fine. you are an adult and you'll be able to do no matter you would like. however normally you've got no plan what others do together with your knowledge. they're recognizing you, they're following you, they're obtaining data regarding your friends, regarding your whereabouts regarding your preferences. that's never what you thought you obtain into once you downloaded a free-of-charge app. that is specifically what we've to alter."
Reding spoke out last week against proposed changes in Google's privacy policy, warning the search large that she was "not enjoying games" because the French knowledge protection commissioner, the CNIL, announced that it might lead a Europe-wide investigation into whether or not the changes were legal. Google implemented the changes, that it said would pull along data from across all of its services, at the beginning of March once asserting them in January.
The code that MWR Infosecurity found gave advertising networks access to contacts, calendar and site. It came from an outsized US ad network referred to as MobClix. Channel four said that it had not competent repeated requests for comment.
Google told Channel four News that it's best practises for app manufacturers to follow when it involves user knowledge, however it does not screen applications before they're offered for download.
MobClix is owned by Velti, a US-based company that claims to be the most important mobile selling company, primarily based on revenue, customers, client reach and technology holdings.
Apple has recently come back beneath hearth too once it absolutely was discovered that some apps will upload all or a part of the user's address book, and additional recently when it absolutely was found that for each Apple and Android phones that some apps may access photos on the devices. Apple has said that it'll address the weakness in a very forthcoming software update.
Correction: the headline on an earlier version of this text said that user knowledge was passed to advertisers. because the story makes clear, this could have said 'ad networks'.
MWR Infosecurity found that a major range of the highest fifty "free" apps that generate cash for the developer and advertisers by connecting to an yankee advertising network die details regarding the phone's user to the network – a move that will breach European knowledge protection laws. With roughly 1 / 4 of the UK's phone users using Android phones, and with many apps downloaded each month – usually at no cost, supported by advertising, instead of paid-for – the gap in security could be a supply of concern.
The study was commissioned by Channel four News. MWR Infosecurity told the programme: "We found that lots of the free applications within the prime fifty apps list are using advertising within the applications, which the permission that you simply grant to those applications is additionally granted to the advertiser. If users knew regarding this i believe they might agonize regarding it, however at the instant i do not assume they're attentive to true and the way widely their data may be used."
The EC commissioner for justice, Viviane Reding, condemned the practice: "This very issues me, and this can be against the law as a result of no one has the correct to induce your personal knowledge while not you agreeing to the current," she told Channel four News. "Maybe you would like someone to induce this knowledge and agree and it's fine. you are an adult and you'll be able to do no matter you would like. however normally you've got no plan what others do together with your knowledge. they're recognizing you, they're following you, they're obtaining data regarding your friends, regarding your whereabouts regarding your preferences. that's never what you thought you obtain into once you downloaded a free-of-charge app. that is specifically what we've to alter."
Reding spoke out last week against proposed changes in Google's privacy policy, warning the search large that she was "not enjoying games" because the French knowledge protection commissioner, the CNIL, announced that it might lead a Europe-wide investigation into whether or not the changes were legal. Google implemented the changes, that it said would pull along data from across all of its services, at the beginning of March once asserting them in January.
The code that MWR Infosecurity found gave advertising networks access to contacts, calendar and site. It came from an outsized US ad network referred to as MobClix. Channel four said that it had not competent repeated requests for comment.
Google told Channel four News that it's best practises for app manufacturers to follow when it involves user knowledge, however it does not screen applications before they're offered for download.
MobClix is owned by Velti, a US-based company that claims to be the most important mobile selling company, primarily based on revenue, customers, client reach and technology holdings.
Apple has recently come back beneath hearth too once it absolutely was discovered that some apps will upload all or a part of the user's address book, and additional recently when it absolutely was found that for each Apple and Android phones that some apps may access photos on the devices. Apple has said that it'll address the weakness in a very forthcoming software update.
Correction: the headline on an earlier version of this text said that user knowledge was passed to advertisers. because the story makes clear, this could have said 'ad networks'.
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