Remerge app targeting

A high court decision in March granting the Football Association Premier League (“FAPL”) an injunction has marked the latest stand by the Premier League against illegal streaming of matches in the UK. The judgment is both a response to, and made possible by, technological advances and allows for real time blocking of streams accessed via apps and Kodi Boxes which are growing sources of broadcasting illegal content. Background Licensing of rights in football is a multi-billion pound industry and as such, licensors and licensees have an obvious interest in taking steps to protect those rights. In March for example, BT Sport beat Sky to the exclusive rights to show European football until 2021 in a deal worth around £1.18 billion.Illegal streaming of sports is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. In July 2013, another FAPL action was brought against First Row Sports, a website designed to broadcast illegal streams of football and other sports. In that judgment, also … [Read more...] about Kodi Boxes and Apps Targeted by Premier League in Efforts to Reduce Illegal Streaming

World Hamas IDF Apps Hacking Palestinian militant group Hamas is using fake dating and World Cup update apps to hack into the smartphones of Israeli soldiers and turn them into spying devices, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said. If soldiers downloaded the fake apps, it would give Hamas operatives the ability to see a user’s location and contact list. It would also allow the app’s creator to use the phone as a listening device and video camera, The Times of Israel reported. The IDF said hundreds of its soldiers were contacted by imitation Facebook accounts, usually using stolen pictures to pose as young women, asking to talk on WhatsApp. They were then asked to download one of two fake dating apps named WinkChat and GlanceLove. Intelligence officers said those running the fake accounts were not necessarily based in Gaza, the coastal enclave controlled by Hamas. Israeli soldiers use a smartphone during a training session in Ben Shemen forest, near the city of … [Read more...] about Hamas Is Using Dating Apps to Hack Israeli Soldiers

On February 1, 2013, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report entitled “Mobile Privacy Disclosures: Building Trust Through Transparency” (Report), which urges mobile device application (app) platforms and developers to improve the privacy policies for their apps to better inform consumers about their privacy practices.  This report follows other recent publications from the FTC concerning mobile apps—including “Mobile Apps for Kids: Disclosures Still Not Making the Grade,” released December 2012 (December 2012 Report), and “Mobile Apps for Kids: Current Privacy Disclosures are Disappointing," released February 2012 (February 2012 Report)—and the adoption of the amended Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule on December 19, 2012.  (See “FTC Updates Rule for Children’s Online Privacy Protection” for more information regarding the recent COPPA amendments.Among other things, the Report … [Read more...] about Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Recommends Privacy Practices for Mobile Apps

Two app developers, LAI Systems, LLC and Retro Dreamer, have settled charges with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleging that the companies shared children’s personal information with third-party advertising networks in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule.These cases are the first in which the FTC alleged that companies allowed ad networks to use persistent identifiers to serve targeted advertising to children.  The FTC added persistent identifiers to the COPPA Rule’s definition of “personal information” when it updated the rule in 2013.  FTC staff explained that these cases “make it clear that we’re closely watching this space to ensure children’s privacy online is being protected.”In its complaint against LAI Systems, the FTC alleged that the company created a number of apps directed to children and allowed third-party advertisers to collect personal information from children … [Read more...] about FTC Settles COPPA Charges With Two App Developers

As discussed in an earlier post, the release of Pokemon Go raised speculation about app security failures, including reports that the app's standard permissions released user's Google data and emails to the game's developers. While investigation did not reveal Pokemon Go to be more dangerous than other apps, it would be foolish to end the conversation about app security on that sigh of relief. Mobile Apps do not come without security risks to individuals, businesses, or even governments, and risks vary widely on different platforms and between different apps. If an employee's smartphone contains sensitive company data alongside gaming or productivity apps, there are very real risks to be aware of when trying to prevent security breaches. Smartphone apps: what are the risks?Most smartphone apps are not primarily out to steal data, just to make a profit. That objective can be accomplished through direct advertising within the app, such as banner ads, or through the sale of consumer data … [Read more...] about Security Risks: Smartphone Apps and Sensitive Data