PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL DATA FROM APPS

BEWARE! YOUR APPS COULD BE LEAKING YOUR PERSONAL DATA

What if we tell you that your apps can be your colossal enemy? These tools of convenience, without which the meaning of life wouldn't be the same for many, can be used to rip you off your most essential entity - money. Don't believe us? Read on.

Recently, Indian app users of a popular American fast food chain were in for a rude shock, as personal data of more than 2.2 million Indian users were leaked after the food chain's app's security mechanism was compromised. Although the brand said that its app doesn't store any sensitive financial data (like card details, e-wallet passwords, bank account information), experts opine that there is a reason to worry. With the leaked data including name, phone number, and emails, experts feel that hackers could have access to people's financial details.

LOCAL APP-BASED SERVICE-PROVIDERS REACT

With rapid advancement in app-based business today, hackers tend to exploit the point when the data is getting transferred from the app to the server.

 Though service providers stress that they try their best to maintain high levels of discretion, experts opine that most apps are actually vulnerable and users need to very careful when installing them. 

Vijay Surya J, app developer, Think Tankers Innovative Solutions Pvt.Ltd, Hyderabad said that it is the sole responsibility of the companies to ensure effective discretion in their apps. "A developer should make sure that once the transaction is complete confidential information gets erased, and only the necessary data is stored. These necessary details won't be visible to a normal person. But hackers can extract the details.

ARE CYBER LAWS STRONG ENOUGH?

One of the major problems that Indian app users face when dealing with the issue is the dearth of strong data privacy policies and provisions in the cyber law. "Apps without proper security should not be promoted. Patent and trademark laws are still in a budding stage in India now. Those app developing companies or service providers who don't follow rules should be blacklisted," said, Krishnakumar Bhagavathi, cybercrime expert

SAFETY HACKS

1. Users should check the permissions that the app is asking for.
2. Users should read the permissions carefully and should get to know for which purpose that permission is being asked. Unless the user gives permission to access the data, the app cannot access the data. ( For example, If there is permission for accessing photos in the mobile phone the user should analyze the functionality of the app and they should get to know how these photos are being used in the app so that they are not being misused.)
3. User should go through the privacy policy.
4. While downloading an app from the play store, there will be a window which shows the list of permissions. Generally, users have a tendency to click on 'Accept' without reading the permissions. This is to be avoided.
5. Unless required (like mandatorily required) users should not reveal any personal details. At times while installing an app the user will be asked to enter the mobile number, email id, date of birth etc. But those things might not be compulsory.
6. As far as possible users should avoid storing any sensitive information on their mobile. Some people have a tendency to store their personal details like account number, passwords, pin numbers etc; in the mobile notepad. But this is not a good practice because unknowingly while installing some apps the users might give permissions to access the data.