Future Tech
How pet-related apps could be a cybersecurity risk to owners
From connected collars and GPS trackers to health and wellness applications, the “pet tech” market has been booming in recent years. But these technological marvels raise questions about pet owners’ privacy, according to a recent British study.
Computer science experts from Newcastle University and Royal Holloway, University of London have examined the security of some 40 applications, available on Android, dedicated to pets and animals. They offer pet owners a multitude of services that are supposed to help them in their daily lives, such as tracking the whereabouts of their four-legged friend on their smartphone. But this peace of mind often comes at the expense of their personal data.
Indeed, the researchers noted that most of these apps pose cybersecurity risks to pet owners. In their paper, available via the IEEE Xplore platform, the researchers explain that connection data and user location are sometimes recorded without encryption. They are therefore vulnerable to being stolen by hackers.
Most apps aimed at pet owners also lack transparency about their privacy policies. Thus, 21 of the 40 apps analysed by the British researchers collect personal data on their users without their consent, which is a violation of Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) protecting EU citizens' personal data.
Caution should therefore be exercised when it comes to animal applications, according to Scott Harper, a PhD student at Newcastle University, and lead author of the study.
“While owners might use these apps for peace of mind about the health of their dog or where their cat is, they may not be happy to find out about the risks the apps hold for their own cybersecurity,” he said in a statement.
“We would urge anyone using these apps to take the time to ensure they are using a unique password, check the settings and ensure that they consider how much data they are sharing or willing to share.”
- AFP Relaxnews
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