Zimperium which is a specialist in providing Mobile Security solutions has discovered in its latest survey that 100% of applications running on the Apple iOS store and 45% running on the Android-based play store failed to receive the pass marks for keeping their user data private. This includes almost all popular travel apps in the world.
Although the company did not disclose the names of the travel apps for reasons, it did mention in its report that the apps were the Top 30 ones which were ranking high with user downloads and on user reviews.
Thus, if one wishes to find out the names, then they can just type in “ top 30” travel apps on Google search and match the terms disclosed by Zimperium meeting data privacy and security standards.
Despite all the marketing trumpeting, researchers from Zimperium claim that the apps failed to perform when the industry’s benchmark for privacy was considered. What’s surprising in the find is that even iOS apps failed to pass the privacy test – despite Apple claiming that it’s a privacy-first company in America and across the world.
For instance, over 97% of Android-based apps and 73% of iOS apps were allowing developers and third parties to take screenshots of the full UI of the app, which makes them view data related to other apps downloaded on the phone. What’s more concerning is that 73% of apps from the find were also able to implement pinpoint location functionality, which allows location transmit of app users to ad companies.
The research made by the mobile security firm claims that more than 10% of apps access the call history of a user, and sometimes even contact lists.
Therefore, the research made by the mobile security firm confirms that developers and also companies offering app ecosystems have made little or no progress with security and privacy issues.
So, the next time when you click on a banner of a big travel company claiming to offer you’re a holiday season deal, you better keep a watch on the info you are providing- as privacy fears increased when big companies like Starwood Hotels, British Airways, and Air Canada were caught up in privacy and security related data scandals.
