NHS England-approved apps found leaking unencrypted personal data

In a 2015 study of 79 apps listed in NHS England's Health Apps Library, which tests programs to ensure they meet standards of clinical and data safety, researchers at Imperial College London discovered that 70 of them sent personal data to associated online services and 23 sent that data without encrypting it. Four included both health and personal data in the unprotected transfer. The study also found that even though more than half the apps had privacy policies, these were vague and unclear about what types of data were being shared. In response, NHS England alerted developers to require updates and removed some of the apps from the library.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-34346806

Writer: BBC

Publication: BBC