Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Top 10 IOS and Android apps banned by companies for security reasons

The majority of Android apps are probably banned by companies due to malware and anything that goes against cyber-security while the list for IOS mentions various famous apps like Whatsapp, Pokemon Go, WinZip, Facebook Messenger, Plex, WeChat and some unknown eBay app.
For Whatsapp on IOS, it can send Address Book while Facebook Messenger, WinZip and some unknown eBay app in the Top 10 list send SMS messages. Plex on the other hand, does something quite worse like exposing device name and location. Camera exposure through apps is another reason like you don't want other people in public areas in the photo or video or maybe private premises SHOULD NOT be photographed or filmed. Plex is supposed to be some kind of a home media center service but why would it expose camera like it's beyond me? This is something Plex should explain and media centers at home are for watching something like movies, dramas and other TV shows.
According to the firm however, it appears that companies are seriously concerned about those cyber-security flaws in the apps like they pay detailed attention to them. Most of the time, the information transmission isn't encrypted despite the fact that there are promises to get messages encrypted for apps like Whatsapp, for instance. Furthermore, Facebook, Pandora and Yelp are to be treated with extra care by administrators, that is for IOS and on Android, Uber, Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger may include things like data leaks and breaches.
Lastly, about Pokemon Go being in Top 10 IOS apps banned by companies, it may be due to the fact that:
  • The players may be disturbing the workplace like trying to find and catch the Pokemon taking place in the company premises.
  • The locations may be vulnerable to trepassing because of rare Pokemon, gym or any other stuffs taking place there.
  • The game can be used by criminals for illegal activities which may make the players and non-players the victims. (Eg: Luring victims to such locations through illegal modification of the game)
  • Even with policies, the cases can occur.
To use those apps in the workplace is equal to seeking serious trouble and the researchers at Appthority spent tons of effort in identifying the flaws of the apps for IOS & Android. Perhaps, the same policy should go for Windows Store apps as used in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. To make them exactly like Windows 7 in which every Modern UI stuffs and apps have to be removed completely isn't an easy task but the enterprise version of Modern UI apps should be a thing for business touch screen devices.