Phone applications provide entertainment, knowledge and distraction for users. However, these apps may be allowing hackers to access your information.
Here are the top 5 common app security vulnerabilities to be aware of:
1. Insecure data storage - Many apps store sensitive info (including login credentials) on the device, often unencrypted, making it easily accessible to attackers if the device is lost or stolen.
2. Insecure data transmissions - Too often, apps transmit data unencrypted, putting it at risk of being intercepted.
3. Excessive permissions - Be wary of apps that request access to location sensors or seek other permissions that seem unnecessary.
4. Lack of code obfuscation - Code that is highly visible to attackers makes it easier for thieves to find a way into the app.
5. No certificate validation/pinning - Apps that do not properly validate SSL certificates are vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks where the bad guys interject themselves between the app and the server it is trying to communicate with.
Andrew Hoog is the CEO of NowSecure, which provides mobile security solutions, debunks common security assumptions and creates smarter technology to ensure private information remains private and not exposed to unnecessary risks.
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