Do you use smart collars, GPS tracking apps, automatic feeders, and pet cameras to ensure the safety of your dogs and cats? Beware, pet and animal-related apps pose cybersecurity risks to their owners, according to new research.
By evaluating 40 popular Android apps for pets and other companion animals, as well as farm animals, a team of computer scientists from Newcastle and London discovered numerous security and privacy issues.
According to the findings, several of these apps put their users at risk by exposing their login or location information.
“Pet tech such as smart collars and GPS trackers for your cat or dog, is a rapidly growing industry and it brings with it new security, privacy, and safety risks to the pet owners,” said lead author Scott Harper, a doctoral student at Newcastle University.
Within non-secure HTTP traffic, three applications had the user’s login details visible in plain text. This means that anyone can observe someone’s internet traffic while using one of these apps and learn their login information.
Furthermore, two of the apps displayed user information, such as their location, which could allow someone to gain access to their devices and risk a cyber-attack.
Another point of contention was the use of trackers. All but four of the applications were discovered to use tracking software. A tracker collects information about the person using the app, how they use it, or the smartphone being used.
The scientists also warn that the apps do a poor job of informing users of their privacy policies. According to their findings, 21 of the apps track the user in some way before the user has a chance to consent, thus violating current data protection regulations.
“We would urge anyone using these apps to take the time to ensure they are using a unique password, check the settings and ensure that they consider how much data they are sharing or willing to share.” Harper said.
The results were presented at the IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy Workshops in 2022.
