Pokemon Go a threat to enterprise cybersecurity, experts say

Hackers accessed the "Pokemon Go" network, temporarily disrupting access to the augmented reality smartphone game Sunday, and security experts are warning companies of the threat this may cause to organizations' cybersecurity.

A group called OurMine claimed responsibility for the hack Sunday, and claims to have interrupted access to the game to spread awareness about stronger security practices, reports Tech Crunch. Another group called PoodleCorp has claimed responsibility for accessing the servers this weekend, as well.

For organizations with bring your own device policies or corporate-owned, business-only phones, the vulnerabilities of the app pose a threat to enterprisewide security, according to Barbara Rembiesa, president, CEO and co-founder of the International Association of Information Technology Asset Managers.

"Frankly, the truth is that "Pokemon Go" is a nightmare for companies that want to keep their email and cloud-based information secure," she said in a statement. "Even with the enormous popularity of this gaming app, there are just too many questions and too many risks involved for responsible corporations to allow the game to be used on corporate-owned or BYOD devices."

Ms. Rembiesa said the only safe thing to do is to ban people from downloading and using "Pokemon Go" on BYOD devices and corporate-owned devices.

However, many of the fears of the "Pokemon Go" app security aren't unique to this game. In January, a report from Arxan Technologies found 80 percent of health apps approved by the FDA are vulnerable to multiple security risks.

More articles on cybersecurity:

78% of organizations don't have a plan to deal with cybersecurity 
3 cybersecurity tips from Google's security and privacy lead 
HHS considers using ethical hackers to identify, address cybersecurity concerns 

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