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Experts identify easy way to improve smartphone security

hands holding a smartphone

Most users pay little attention to permissions that request access to their personal information, selecting "yes" to permission requests out of habit. But researchers at Purdue University say assigning risk scores to apps may make risks more transparent to users and thus incentivize developers to ask for less sensitive data.

Credit: Thinkstock

 

two apps for download with user rating and permissions risk or safety

Study participants were asked to select one of two apps. One app displayed risk information, and another app displayed safety information. Risk and safety information were presented as filled ovals similar to the one to five stars used to present consumer ratings.

Credit: Christopher S. Gates, Purdue University


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