One in three Google Android apps ‘leak’ information but many Aussie users remain unaware of the risk

NEARLY one in three Google Android apps ‘leak’ users’ private information - but new research reveals why Aussie smartphone users may not be taking security seriously enough.

CAREERONE .. generic photo illustrating organised email

ALMOST two million Google Android apps capture and send users’ phone numbers to their makers, according to a new study, and nearly one in three “leak” information like call histories, phone contacts, and PIN numbers.

Despite this, many Australian smartphone users admit they do not know what they agree to when downloading apps, instead blindly accepting the fine print.

The findings come from a global Norton study of 6000 smartphone and tablet users, including 695 Australians, that show Aussies are even more cavalier than users in other nations.

The study also backs up data from Telsyte’s new Australian Digital Consumer Study that reveals only one in five protect their smartphone with security software.

Norton security expert Nick Savvides says smartphone users are not necessarily lazy in overlooking the fine print from free apps but may be overwhelmed by too many requests for access to their phone’s data.

“Because people are downloading apps so often, you get prompted, you get prompted, you get prompted ... and you end up with security fatigue,” he says.

“You don’t end up thinking about those messages and you allow permissions without fully understanding them.”

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Unlike malicious programs that seek to steal financial details or send expensive text messages, however, Mr Savvides says much of the oversharing comes from legitimate apps asking for more information than required for their task.

“If I'm going to play a game, why do you need access to my contacts? It’s something users really need to be aware of,” Mr Savvides says.

An analysis of 15 million Google Android apps by Norton’s Mobile Insight tool found about 13 per cent or almost two milion apps shared users’ phone numbers, while almost a third leaked information from a phone’s SIM card, such as phone call logs.

Despite this, 31 per cent of Australians surveyed admitted they did not know what they were agreeing to when downloading apps — significantly more than the rest of the world (24 per cent).

Privacy compromised ... Australians are unaware of what information they’re giving up, and how to protect it on their phone.

More than half of Australian smartphone users also said they were not concerned about installing viruses on their devices, compared to just 37 per cent of worldwide respondents.

Telsyte managing director Foad Fadaghi says the “blase attitude” of some Australian phone users could be explained by the move from computers to smartphones.

While tasks are moving from desk to pocket, concerns about viruses and malware are not following yet, Mr Fadaghi says.

“Consumers show a little bravado when it comes to the conditions of downloading apps,” he says. “We know that people are a lot more discerning about security on their computers and they probably need to be discerning on their smart devices going forward.”

Know the risks ... Australians are dependent on their phones, and need to know what information they’re handing over to an app.

Telsyte’s Digital Consumer Study 2015 shows more than half of Australians are concerned about permissions taken by free apps and online services, but few seem ready to do anything about it.

“Only one in five use security software on their phone, while more than half have that on their computers,” Mr Fadaghi says. “There is a gap there.

“We talk about people becoming more dependent on their mobile devices and there’s clearly a gap between the perception of safety on these devices and the reality.”

Mr Fadaghi says Google Android users are twice as likely to use security software on their smartphones, but Mr Savvides says Apple’s closed system is “not as much of a concern as Android” currently.

Many big-name antivirus companies offer Google Android security apps for free, with in-app purchases for premium content. These include Norton Mobile Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, McAfee Mobile Security, and AVG Antivirus Security.