"Apps for Older Adults Contain Security Vulnerabilities"

Technology and mobile devices are most commonly associated with younger users, but older individuals are not far behind. Pew Research Center estimates that approximately 61 percent of older people in the US own a smartphone. This market is expected to expand as the population ages, and a constellation of mobile apps designed for this demographic is also expanding. These apps may help older users remain in touch with loved ones, assist with health-related tasks, and enhance their social lives, but they are not risk-free. According to a new paper by Concordia researchers, some of the most popular apps designed for older adults pose significant privacy and data risks. The researchers examined 146 popular Android apps and discovered that 95 of them, or roughly two-thirds, do not adequately protect users in one or more ways. According to them, it is a significant risk for a population that may be unaware of the inherent perils of an increasingly interconnected world. The paper's main author, Pranay Kapoor, pointed out that many of these apps contain essential health or medication information. An attacker could potentially exploit the vulnerabilities in these apps to alter the medication or the reminders to take it. Even minor alterations can have profound consequences. This article continues to discuss apps designed for older adults containing multiple security vulnerabilities.

Concordia University reports "Apps for Older Adults Contain Security Vulnerabilities"