Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ted Cruz knows where you live – if you downloaded his app (his official app leaks personal data)
The Register ^ | Apr 26, 2016 | John Leyden

Posted on 04/26/2016 8:12:12 AM PDT by dayglored

US presidential primary apps leak supporters' phone data

"...nearly 25 per cent were found to be exposing sensitive data... account details (email address and social media profile names), device phone number, GPS coordinates, and more..."
Many US presidential primary apps gather users’ personal information and leave their sensitive data vulnerable to attackers, security researchers at Symantec warn.

Data exchanged through many of the apps can be intercepted by attackers and shared with third parties because of weak security practices.

Symantec analysed the official mobile app behaviours of top primary candidates, as well as popular unaffiliated apps, using its Norton Mobile Security with Norton Mobile Insight tools. More than half the 1,200 presidential-primary-related Android apps* tested exposed sensitive data.

Amongst the popular primary election apps — those with more than one million downloads — nearly 25 per cent were found to be exposing sensitive data.

The most frequent types of data exposed include account details (email address and social media profile names), device phone number, GPS coordinates, and more.

Even official apps, such as those of John Kasich and Ted Cruz, may expose sensitive data. In the case of the official John Kasich 2016 mobile app, every app installed on a device and the user’s location may be exposed. In the case of the official Ted Cruz "Cruz Crew" app, mobile device details and unique IMSI identification were exposed.

More details on the leaky US election apps can be found in a blog post by Symantec here.

Earlier research by the Online Trust Alliance, published last September, revealed that the majority of then US presidential candidates' websites failed a basic privacy and security audit. Sites that failed the audit included the two front-runners: Hillary Clinton (Dem.) and Donald Trump (Rep.).

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/04/26/pres_apps/


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: app; cruz; cruzapp; privacy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last
I'm not surprised.
1 posted on 04/26/2016 8:12:12 AM PDT by dayglored
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce; Swordmaker; ThunderSleeps

Tech / device pings?


2 posted on 04/26/2016 8:12:46 AM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

Probably made in China or India next to his clothes factory.


3 posted on 04/26/2016 8:13:17 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Abby4116; afraidfortherepublic; aft_lizard; AF_Blue; amigatec; AppyPappy; arnoldc1; ATOMIC_PUNK; ...
Political apps compromise your privacy ... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

4 posted on 04/26/2016 8:13:45 AM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

The Cruzers will now be appearing at our doors like Jehovah’s Witnesses.


5 posted on 04/26/2016 8:15:04 AM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

6 posted on 04/26/2016 8:15:09 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle ("The bathroom deal is a big fat nothing burger." -- Jim Robinson, 04/22/16)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

Only if you agree to tell the app where you live.

I wonder if Trump has one of these apps (crickets).


7 posted on 04/26/2016 8:15:52 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you really want to irritate someone, point out something obvious they are trying hard to ignore.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy

Made at the same factory/shop no doubt.


8 posted on 04/26/2016 8:17:41 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Resolute Conservative

By imported workers no doubt.


9 posted on 04/26/2016 8:18:34 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you really want to irritate someone, point out something obvious they are trying hard to ignore.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
Getting to know you; getting to know all about you...


10 posted on 04/26/2016 8:19:43 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (Donald Trump, warts and all, is not a public enemy. The Golems in the GOP are stasis and apathy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Resolute Conservative

Cruz has a clothing line?


11 posted on 04/26/2016 8:21:15 AM PDT by kingu (Everything starts with slashing the size and scope of the federal government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: kingu

The ones he wears. Like all of them...


12 posted on 04/26/2016 8:22:16 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

I suspect it also plays some sort of brain wave disrupting tone that causes hapless supporters to write nasty zotworthy posts.


13 posted on 04/26/2016 8:23:45 AM PDT by fireman15 (The USA will be toast if the Democrats are able to take the Presidency in 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

Yes. If you downloaded his app, then Ted Cruz knows where you live. He stays up at night memorizing addresses...he knows...spooky... Or, if you own your house...he knows...Have a home phone? He knows...Only him...no one else...Ted Cruz...he knows...


14 posted on 04/26/2016 8:25:18 AM PDT by LearnsFromMistakes (FreeRepublic will rise from the trashes!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

“Leak” makes it sound inadvertent. I doubt this was unplanned.


15 posted on 04/26/2016 8:27:39 AM PDT by MortMan (Let's call the push for amnesty what it is: Pedrophilia.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Resolute Conservative

Does Cruz have a clothes factory?


16 posted on 04/26/2016 8:27:47 AM PDT by dforest (Ted took your money and is laughing all the way to Goldman Sachs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: kingu

Cruzers can’t even read a headline. LOL


17 posted on 04/26/2016 8:28:41 AM PDT by dforest (Ted took your money and is laughing all the way to Goldman Sachs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

ExploiTED


18 posted on 04/26/2016 8:33:55 AM PDT by bigbob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

Nothing new. He did it in Iowa.


19 posted on 04/26/2016 8:40:21 AM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard the Third: With my own people alone I should like to drive away the Turks (Muslims))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

Interesting omissions in the “article”...

Trump has 75% of the presidential apps, Cruz has 4% according to the Symantec link, yet nothing is mentioned of any vulnerabilities in Trump’s apps.

Many of these are not official, yet, the candidates are somehow responsible?

Symantec states Cruz’s official apps have a “Low” risk and Kasich comes in with a split report card. But nothing on Trump, Bernie or Hillary...

Curious.


20 posted on 04/26/2016 8:40:54 AM PDT by SZonian (Throwing our allegiances to political parties in the long run gave away our liberty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson