Mobile Apps Security

BoRacic

Was about to download an app from MyFitnessPal site, to track my exercise and eating habits, then read the t&c's re how they use info.

Dont mind them using my online info taken with their cookies, trackers and web beacons (whatever they are ) but am clueless regarding apps on my iphone.

How concerned should I be?

What security options does one have with mobile apps?

Many thanks in advance

Chartered_Eng

BoRacic wrote: »

Was about to download an app from MyFitnessPal site, to track my exercise and eating habits, then read the t&c's re how they use info.

Dont mind them using my online info taken with their cookies, trackers and web beacons (whatever they are ) but am clueless regarding apps on my iphone.

How concerned should I be?

What security options does one have with mobile apps?

Many thanks in advance

You don't say which operating system you are using (iPhone / Android / WinDoze). With Andriod and WinDoze there are serious concerns on the applications way the Apps are distributed and Android in particular has a very suspect record. Apple vet their Apps before they are allowed into iTunes store giving some confidence that the App won't phone home with your personal details.

It comes down to how confident do you feel that the company you want to use and their recent ethical history. There is no way an average user can easily tell if an app is phoning home (using WiFi / 3G) to send personal data. There have been some apps that have been sending personal data to servers located in China.

Apple's apps have the ability to elect not to send location information back to the host server such as location that some use to serve up relevant information on where you are.

Spank

Chartered_Eng wrote: »

You don't say which operating system you are using (iPhone / Android / WinDoze).

Yeah he does, on the second line last word (iPhone)

Yolina

There are some legitimate apps which can be *very* nosey (Facebook being a prime example), though for anyone with a rooted Android there are some apps available to control permissions

BoRacic

Thanks 'chartered', I am an Iphone user.
Think I need to do a lot more research into phone apps and mobile security in general.
Don't mind spam online but don't fancy it on mobile.
Makes me shudder to think of my contacts etc. being sent to someone in China (or anywhere else).

Thanks for comments guys.

Chartered_Eng

BoRacic wrote: »

Thanks 'chartered', I am an Iphone user.
Think I need to do a lot more research into phone apps and mobile security in general.
Don't mind spam online but don't fancy it on mobile.
Makes me shudder to think of my contacts etc. being sent to someone in China (or anywhere else).

Thanks for comments guys.

Using an iPhone (as long as it is not jail broken) is more secure than the Android platform. In the preferences it is easy to turn off the location services if you want. This enables the App to know where you physically are (from approximate phone mast location or GPS) so that it uses to serve either relevant information or ads. An example is the National Trust App that uses your location to tell you of properties in your vicinity.

As long as you get the App from iTunes store you won't get spam or spyware as they are vetted by Apple before they go into the store. It is not a cast iron guarantee but the security will be much better than something you can pick up from a web site.

Read the T's & C's of the app and the user reviews on the iTunes Store and make a valued judgement.