Scienza e Tecnologia
Mobile security specialist, Corrata, discovers weak encryption on major websites when accessed using iOS devices
However not all website implementations of https are equally secure. Some websites use out of date versions of the protocol which are known to be vulnerable to hacking. This is particularly risky when using Wifi networks because the traffic passing between a mobile phone and a Wifi access point can easily be spied upon. Internet users rely on the fact that sensitive data is transmitted in encrypted form to combat such spying. However where weak encryption is used it will fail to protect sensitive data such as passwords, financial information and other confidential data.
The specific weakness discovered by Corrata related to a misconfiguration of the sites' web servers to favor an old insecure cipher called RC4 when accessed using iOS devices (iPhones and iPads). Vulnerabilities in this cipher make it vulnerable to hacking and website owners have been strongly advised not to use it for at least ten years. Devices with Corrata's mobile threat defense solution installed automatically detect these flaws and prevent users' data being stolen. It is these routine checks which brought the vulnerability to light.
Corrata are global leaders in mobile security for organisations of all sizes. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland , they currently work with leading businesses across Europe and North America to provide complete protection against phishing, malware, man-in-the-middle attacks and data loss on smartphones and tablets without the complexity found in competing solutions. Corrata's mobile endpoint security solution operates discreetly and locally on a user's mobile phone or tablet, with no interruption of device performance and without compromising employee privacy or user experience.