18.6% of iPhone Apps Access Your Address Book Without Permission

Antivirus software company Bitdefender has studied over 65,000 iPhone apps on the App Store and found that 18.6% are accessing your address book without asking permission, reports MobileEntertainment.

In addition, 41% of apps can track your whereabouts and just 57.5% encrypt the data.

Catalin Cosoi, chief security researcher, Bitdefender, said: "It is worrying stored data encryption on iOS apps is low and location tracking is so prevalent. Without notification of what an app accesses, it is difficult to control what information users give up."


"We see a worrying landscape of poor user data encryption, prevalent location tracking and silent, unjustified, Address Book access."

This will of course change with iOS 6. Apple is now requiring explicit user permission before allowing apps access to your contacts, calendars, reminders, location, and photos. iOS 6 is expected to be released this fall.

Read More [via CultofMac]