Mary-Louise Hoffman
FireEye researchers have found many Android and iOS applications put mobile device users at risk of data and identity theft as well as premium rate phone and SMS fraud.
Thirty-one percent of approximately 7 million popular apps analyzed by FireEye between January and October 2014 were exposed to a common vulnerability, the company said Friday.
Eighteen percent of the discovered vulnerable apps were used to manage healthcare, communication, shopping, productivity and financial data.
“Our findings highlight the threat apps pose and why enterprises must implement a mobile security policy that focuses on applications,” said Manish Gupta, senior vice president of products at FireEye.
Researchers also identified more than 1,400 iOS apps that carry suspicious enterprise provisioning profiles.
A 2013 FireEye report showed the number of Android apps that are designed to steal financial information increased by 500 percent.
