Hidden Risks of Data Leakage in Mobile Apps and How to Prevent Them

In today’s world, almost everyone has a mobile device full of apps. Most commonly, mobile apps serve as essential tools for personal and professional communication. However, the scope of apps goes much further, since many individuals use apps for fitness, healthcare, shopping, entertainment, and so much more. This means that, while your phone and its apps are packed with convenience and efficiency, they also come with one large hidden cost: your personal data.

Most users don’t bother to read the terms of services, or pay too much attention to what data they share with their apps. Many even unknowingly grant apps broad access to their personal information and files on their device. From personal information and location to private messages and photos, apps can collect and store massive amounts of this data, if allowed to.

What makes this even worse is that this information can then be sold, stolen, or even leaked without your knowledge. This has created a common situation where individuals need to remove personal information from the internet. While this is a great process that will minimize how much of your data is out there, it is best to prevent it from getting out there in the first place. In light of this, let’s take a closer look at how exactly data leakage in mobile apps occurs, alongside some real-world incidents. Well also look at key steps you can take to protect yourself and reduce your digital footprint.

What Is Data Leakage in Mobile Apps?

Data leakage refers to the unauthorized transmission of data from an app to an external destination. These instances occur either by accident or, more commonly, through exploits of poor security systems. Unlike deliberate data breaches or hacks, leakage happens because of a few common causes:

Cause	Effect
Overly broad permissions	Apps often request access to more data than needed. A common example of this is a flashlight or some other simple app that requests access to contacts, camera, and location.
Third-party SDKs	Software development kits (SDKs) can have the ability to send data to third parties.
Unsecured storage	Storing data in plain text or on insecure servers leaves it exposed to anyone.
Insecure network traffic	Apps that don’t use HTTPS can expose your data via an insecure connection.
Improper data logging	Logs contain a lot of personal data, and they can be accessed by other apps and users.

Even reputable apps can have these issues if their developers overlook security during conception. If these instances are noticed, reporting them is crucial, as it can help prevent major data leaks. Although most of this is up to the developers to identify and fix, it is still important that both devs and end users understand the fundamentals of data leakage and what data is shared with your apps.

Real-World Examples of Mobile App Data Leaks

In the past, there have been masses of data leaks that have resulted in many people having their personal information leaked. Some of the most notable incidents include:

1. Facebook’s Android App: Back in 2019, it was discovered that Facebook’s Android app collected call and SMS metadata without the full knowledge of users. This was technically allowed by permissions, but it set a bad precedent about the misuse of user trust and consent upon app download.
2. TikTok Data Concerns: It is no secret that TikTok’s access to a wide range of data on users’ devices raised alarms for many. With good reason, as the app was found to collect device identification, location data, and even IP addresses, raising significant surveillance concerns.
3. AccuWeather App: In 2017, it was discovered that AccuWeather used its permissions and sent its users’ location data to a third-party advertiser. This was a dangerous and significant breach because it occurred even when users had location sharing disabled.

All of these real-world data leaks had a major impact on the affected individuals. Some faced issues such as unauthorized profiling and marketing of data, loss of financial and medical privacy, targeted scams and cyberattacks, and, in the worst cases, identity theft.

If you should take anything from these examples, it is that you need to be mindful of your data and take even seemingly harmless permissions seriously.

How to Prevent Data Leakage

The best way to prevent data leakage is to be proactive and implement effective data-safe practices into your everyday life. First and foremost, make sure to always review app permissions regularly and in great detail. By ensuring apps can only access what they need and when they need it, you significantly reduce the risk of data leakage.

No matter what kind of phone you use, make sure to utilize the temporary permissions feature for any sensitive data, especially location, microphone, and camera access. Additionally, make sure to check app reviews and download only from trusted sources. With this, you ensure that the apps you are downloading are credible and have at least gone through Apple App Store’s or Google Play Store’s security checks.

Aside from app security, it is important to understand the value of encrypted connections. By ensuring that the apps you download utilize up-to-standard network communication, you improve your internet security. However, also make sure that you only use secure internet connections and make a habit of avoiding public Wi-Fi, which can be unsafe. If you must use a public network, such as in a cafe or airport, make sure to avoid sharing sensitive information and try to use a VPN. Finally, to solidify your data protection strategy, install privacy-focused and credible security apps that will help monitor trackers and limit data exposure. These can also restrict apps from running or collecting data in the background and when they are not in use.

The Role of Personal Data Management

Personal data management extends from adjusting your app settings to locking down your phone with privacy-focused apps. To truly keep a clean digital footprint and reduce how much of your data is shared, it is paramount that you manage your data exposure effectively. The less data there is about you, the less there is to leak. The process of doing this is called data minimization and has many benefits, such as reducing profiling rates, and lowering both your digital footprint and the risks that might arise after a data leak. The most common practices you should implement to minimize your data are:

• Delete old accounts you no longer use
• Utilize data removal tools
• Uninstall apps you rarely use
• Don’t sign up for services with a primary email; use a burner instead
• Adjust privacy settings on digital accounts
• Use a password manager

By taking the time to follow these steps, you will minimize how much of your data is out there. That way, even if a data leak occurs, there will be minimal damage to you and any issues will be easier to address.

Protecting Your Data From Mobile Apps

For as long as we rely on apps, data leakage via them is likely to remain a persistent threat that must be handled efficiently. Here, we have covered the most important aspects of data leakage and ways you can combat it and take control of your data. So let’s take one final recap of what you need to do to stay vigilant and keep your data safe.

First and foremost, make sure to review permissions on your device for all apps and keep them updated. To ensure their credibility, only download trusted apps through verified platforms such as the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Once you have reviewed and adjusted your apps, regularly monitor their permissions and be mindful of what data you share with them to minimize personal data leakage. With these simple practices integrated into your everyday app use, you will significantly improve your data privacy. So, make sure to keep up with new trends in the space and prevent your data from becoming a commodity.