Over a quarter of the device permissions that shopping apps request are unrelated to their performance and could put your privacy at risk, NordVPN said in a press release on Monday.
The average shopping app requests over 18 device permissions, but as many as five are unrelated to their functionality.
“Shopping apps are among the most eager to request access to devices’ functions that are not needed for their performance,” Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity advisor at NordVPN, said.
“Collected data could be used against the user’s interests and lead to privacy issues that are way more serious than targeted ads. Users should always consider whether the app needs certain data to do its job before tapping ‘Accept,’ even if the app is developed by a well-known and trustworthy online shopping platform,” he added.
As millions prepare for holiday shopping, one of the most effective ways to protect your privacy while shopping online is by using a VPN. A VPN, like NordVPN, protects your internet traffic from hackers and other malicious parties. It also prevents companies from tracking you online, ensuring you can shop safely and privately.
Safety Risks of Online Shopping Apps
NordVPN’s researchers analyzed the top five apps in 18 categories across 18 countries, including Australia, Germany, Japan, and the US. They found that shopping apps request “10 special, dangerous, and biometric permissions on average.”
This invasive practice puts users’ privacy at risk. “Only lifestyle (14), messaging and social networking (13), and dating and navigation (11) apps request more permissions of this kind,” NordVPN noted in its press release.
NordVPN researchers also found that 87% of Android apps and 60% of iOS apps requested permissions not needed for their functions.
While Android apps have an average of four unnecessary permissions out of 19 overall requests, iOS apps have an average of one out of five.
This disparity between Android and iOS apps in terms of permission requests highlights a stark difference in how these platforms approach user privacy.
The study also highlighted geographical variations, with apps from East Asia, particularly Hong Kong and Taiwan, asking for the most permissions. In contrast, apps from Mexico asked for the lowest number of permissions. Meanwhile, apps in Canada, Australia, the UK, and the Netherlands collected the most personal information on average.
How to Shop Safely
Warmenhoven outlined some measures you can take to protect your privacy when using shopping apps:
- Only download apps from official sources: Unofficial stores may not vet apps properly, so they may contain malicious apps.
- Review privacy policies: Understand what data apps collect and what they do with it.
- Be aware of app permissions: Check and manage the permissions you grant, especially sensitive ones like access to your camera or location.
- Avoid using social media accounts to sign in to online shops. This can lead to data sharing between the app and your social media account.
- Delete unnecessary apps: If you’re not using an app, it’s better to uninstall it, as it may continue to collect your data.
NordVPN’s built-in Threat Protection feature is essential for safe online shopping, offering bulletproof security by blocking trackers and malicious sites, preventing cybercriminals from tracking you. It also enhances your safety during high-traffic events like Cyber Monday by also identifying and blocking risky websites and downloads, protecting your device from malware and other threats.
Read our guide to shopping safely online for more privacy tips.
NordVPN’s Discount Deals
This Cyber Monday, NordVPN is offering significant discounts on its products. You can get a 69% reduction on a two-year NordVPN subscription, bringing the price down to just $2.99 per month, plus three additional months free.
But Cyber Monday deals don’t end there. Nord Security is also offering discounted rates for NordPass, a top-class password manager, and NordLocker, their excellent cloud storage service, ensuring you get a comprehensive digital security package.
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