Like all technology, mobile apps can be infected with malicious code, or malware, which is intended to gain access to your mobile phone when you download the app. Although app stores try their best to not allow malicious apps to get into the store, monitor apps once they are included in the store, and delete
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Privacy Tip #337 – FBI Issues Warning About Cryptocurrency Apps
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
On July 18, 2022, the FBI issued an Alert advising consumers that fraudulent cryptocurrency apps have caused more than 244 victims to lose nearly $43 million.
The fraudulent apps that cyber criminals used to steal funds from consumers were presented as banking institutions asking investors to deposit funds, and then not allowing them to withdraw…
Privacy Tip #204 – Has Your Doctor (or other Professional) Downloaded Apps With Microphone Access?
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
I have the great pleasure to present annually to doctors who are in their fellowship (which means they are post-med school and continuing their training in a particular specialty) about lawyerly things before they go out into the real world. I have been doing it for years for an old friend of mine who is…
Utah to Test Blockchain Voting Through Mobile Apps
By Benjamin Jensen on
Posted in Blockchain
As we head toward 2020, expect significant public debate relating to smartphone applications designed to increase turnout and participation in upcoming elections. The Democratic Party has dipped its toe in the water, announcing in July plans to allow telephone voting in lieu of appearing for neighborhood caucus meetings in the key early primary states of…
Protecting the Privacy of Children Online – More Updates on COPPA
By Robinson+Cole's Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Team on
Posted in Children's Privacy
Last week, two Senators, Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts and Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding apps designed for children and whether they are in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), See 15 U.S.C. 6501 and regulations at 16 C.F.R. Part 312 et. seq. The Senators stated that they are concerned that thousands of apps may “improperly track children and collect their personal information.” The Senators requested a response from the FTC by October 31. The letter also asked that the FTC “investigate whether these apps, and the advertising companies they work with, are in fact tracking children with persistent identifiers and collecting their personal information in violation of COPPA…”…
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Privacy Tip #141 – Teen Safe App Exposes Parents’ and Teens’ Information
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
Admittedly, parents of teens have unique worries about their children. So-called “helicopter parents” worry more than others. A perfect app for such parents is Teen Safe, which allows those worried parents to monitor their children’s location, text messages, call history, app downloads and browsing history. Yikes—the only monitor I ever had with my kids was…
Privacy Tip #130 – Smartphones Targeted by Dark Caracal Attack
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
There is a global malware campaign that is targeting mobile devices across the world. It is called Dark Caracal, which is believed to be sourced in Beirut by the Lebanese General Security Directorate. According to security researchers, attacks on mobile devices are on the rise because people are using their smartphones more than they are…
Privacy Tip #128 – Basic Smartphone Settings to Thwart Hackers
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
When talking to colleagues and friends, it appears that folks do not understand how their smartphones work and the data that can be accessed through them. This prompted me to again give basic steps that can be used to protect personal information that can be accessed, legitimately and in an unauthorized manner through the settings…
NY AG Announces Settlements with Three Mobile-Health App Developers Over Privacy, Marketing Concerns
By Conor Duffy on
On March 23, 2017, New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced settlements with three mobile health application (app) development companies aimed at curbing deceptive marketing practices and inadequate privacy disclosures to consumers. The settlements – reached with Cardiio, Inc., Matis Ltd., and Runtastic GmbH, respectively – target health measurement apps that “purport to measure vital signs or other indicators of health using only a smartphone’s camera and sensors, without any need for an external device.”
The Office of Attorney General (OAG) expressed concern that growing consumer reliance on health-related apps “can be harmful” if the apps provide inaccurate or misleading results because they could cause consumers to potentially forgo necessary medical treatment, or conversely incur unnecessary treatment, in reliance on false assurances of health provided by such apps. In the settlements the OAG highlighted apparent issues it had identified with each of the developers’ apps, including:…
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Privacy Tip #61 – Beware of Fake Apps that are Gearing Up for the Holiday Season
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
The New York Times reported last week that “hundreds of fake retail and product apps have popped up in Apple’s App Store in recent weeks”—just in time to deceive holiday shoppers.
The Apps use well-known brand logos to deceive consumers. According to some, there has been a dramatic increase in fake apps this year over…