App developers urged to take greater care in accessing data

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The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has claimed that mobile app developers need to be a lot clearer about what data they happen to be accessing, after a YouGov survey highlighting concerns around how such programs are being used to access people's information.

The study found that around 320 million apps were downloaded on Christmas Day last year, but around 62 per cent of the people that had acquired those apps admitted to being concerned about the way apps use personal information.

Such concerns could arguably be one of the main reasons that 49 per cent of users had chosen not to download an app due to having worries over privacy.

This means that app developers are potentially losing nearly half of their overall market because they are either too vague about how personal information is being used, or that such data is being used in a way that customers disagree with.

“The app development industry is one of the UK’s fastest growing industries, but our survey shows almost half of app users have rejected an app due to privacy concerns. It is important that developers tackle this issue by making sure their apps look after personal information correctly," said ICO principal policy advisor for technology, Simon Rice.

He added that the with the organisation's guidance, developers would be able to gain a better understanding of the correct ways in which to use the personal information of customers and ensure that it remains secure.

The ICO did stress however that data protection is not solely the responsibility of the developers themselves, as consumers also need to be aware of what is happening with their information.

It recommends that users only download apps from official outlets and read up on programmes before they download them, while also deleting any unused apps so as to make sure nothing slips off the radar.

Cloud storage systems can also be very useful as they allow users to keep important information data and information safe, while eliminating any worries about any breaches due to loss or theft of a device.

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”. App developers urged to take greater care in accessing data. December 20, 2013. Storetec.