How phone apps become tools of war

Infiltrating phone apps has become an increasingly common practice, both for propaganda and surveillance. Hacking a phone app can be more effective than trying to tap into a computer, according to Nicholas Reese, former director of emerging technology policy at the Department of Homeland Security. People generally store more personal information on their phones, often without realizing it. Accessing a computer typically requires infiltrating popular cloud services, which have sophisticated and standardized security protections. There are a lot more app developers than cloud services, and not all of them implement rigorous protections — making it easier to commandeer certain apps for data collection or sending unsolicited messages. Even within the smartphone ecosystem, apps are a more useful target than other communication features on a device. “You have two options: you get to them through an app that they use, or you send them a text message or a phone call,” said Herb Lin, who previously served on President Barack Obama’s Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity. He added that the main advantage is that you can access a broader user base by just tapping into a particular app, instead of having to collect phone numbers for calls or texts.