"Are Our Pets Leaking Information About Us?"

According to new research, pet and animal-related apps pose cybersecurity risks to their owners. Many pet owners may find the ability to track their cats and dogs appealing since it can bring peace of mind. However, enabling a third party to track their movements can be less appealing. Through the analysis of 40 popular Android apps for pets, computer scientists from Newcastle University and Royal Holloway, University of London, have uncovered a number of security and privacy problems. Several of these apps put their users at risk by disclosing their login credentials or location information. One of the issues revealed by the researchers was password weakness. They found three apps that had user login details visible in plain text within non-secure HTTP traffic. This means that anyone can look at the Internet traffic of an individual using one of these apps and obtain their login credentials. In addition to login information, two of the apps displayed user details that may allow cybercriminals to access their devices and launch an attack. The researchers identified the use of trackers as an additional area of concern. All apps except for four were discovered to include tracking software. The team also cautions that the privacy policies of the apps are poorly communicated to the user. Their study reveals that 21 apps track the user in some manner prior to the user's authorization, thus violating existing data protection regulations. This article continues findings from the research on the cybersecurity risks posed by pet and animal-related apps. 

Newcastle University reports "Are Our Pets Leaking Information About Us?"