With the biggest football game of the year just days away, it seems the NFL needs to talk about better defense – not on the field, but off – for its NFL Mobile app.
According to mobile data gateway Wandera, the NFL Mobile app, both the iOS and Android versions, has a “serious security hole” that leaves its users’ personal information at risk of being hacked. Wandera found that usernames, passwords and email addresses were leaked, allowing hackers access to users’ full NFL profiles on www.nfl.com, which include address, phone number, occupation and date of birth, among other data.
“It is ironic that just like a quarterback being vulnerable to an interception, the NFL app is vulnerable to a man-in-the-middle attack that puts users’ data at risk of interception by hackers,” Eldar Tuvey, CEO of Wandera, said in a statement.
A spokesman for the NFL told Ars Technica that the security issue identified by Wandera had been addressed. He said it wasn’t necessary for users to update the NFL app to be protected.
So, if you’re an NFL Mobile app user, it sounds like your personal information on that app is now safe. Unfortunately, the problem doesn’t end there.
If you’re like many people, you use the same email, username and password for several accounts. If your personal information was hijacked off NFL Mobile, cybercriminals could attempt to use it for other sites. Tuvey said:
Mobile attacks are growing on all platforms, but it’s clear that many businesses are still underestimating the severity and risk that smartphones present. The threats out there are real and changing every day. Fragmented, piecemeal security simply will not do anymore.
Wandera said it was not clear if users’ credit card information could be accessed by hackers.
Are you an NFL Mobile app user? Have you had your personal information hacked before? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.
With all the devices and apps we use these days, the chances of losing personal data — or worse, identity theft — are rising. Watch the video below for tips on protecting yourself from becoming a victim.
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