Bogus Windows Phone app leaked customers' personal data

posted by Alan F. / Jan 17, 2014, 4:32 PM

Bogus Windows Phone app leaked customers' personal data

Netherlands based telecom firm Telfort didn't understand what was happening. Thousands of its customers' phone numbers and passwords were being leaked online, but it couldn't find the source of the information. Telfort shut down parts of its website relating to orders, and found that the leak had nothing to do with its own network.

Finally, after further investigation, Telfort found that a phony app using the Telfort name, was responsible for the security breach. Published in the Windows Phone Store, Telfort was able to get the app booted from the Store. The phony app used the real Telfort logo and asked users for their name and login information so that they could check their account.

Let this be a lesson to all to guard against giving out too much information online. Your information can fall into the wrong hands and an app can be bogus even you downloaded it straight from the Windows Phone Store, Google Play Store, Apple App Store or BlackBerry World. The hard part is distinguishing official apps from counterfeits. But then again, that is what the bad guys are counting on. Telfort is considering legal action against the creator of the bogus app.

source: deGelderlander (translated), KPN (translated) via ZDNet, WPCentral

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46 Comments

1. cripton805

Posts: 1485; Member since: Mar 18, 2012

Where are all the windows people at that would bash on Android about security?

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 4:38 PM 13

2. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

We don't bash on Android... We don't like Android, and we're confident about our platform, so we don't fell the need to do that.. Think about this.. How many Android fans do you see making negative comments on every WP related article❔ Then think about how often you see a WP fan even commenting in Android related articles❔... Now, think about why you're here❔

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 4:52 PM 1

5. jaychildz

Posts: 144; Member since: May 31, 2013

Ok you can't compare android fans to imaginary WP fans, my laptop isn't even windows. I'll go flip before i go windows

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 4:55 PM 2

6. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

You don't like Windows❔.. Ummm, is anyone supposed to care❔.. I'm confused about the point of your comment.. Are you trying to get me to compete with you❔... Yeah, not interested.

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 4:58 PM 1

22. Vanster

Posts: 124; Member since: Jan 15, 2014

haha your laptop not use windows, it maybe so yesterday

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 7:05 PM 0

25. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

Or maybe it's running the latest version of Linux, dumbass.

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 7:25 PM 4

13. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

You fans might be confident about your platform, but Microsoft certainly isn't. It runs constant smear campaigns against Google and Android. Any of us making a big deal out of this are simply returning the favor.

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 6:14 PM 6

15. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

Who cares... If you don't like it don't use it, and don't waist your time.. Who cares about your politics❔

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 6:30 PM 1

18. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

Microsoft most definitely cares. Why else would they spend all their advertising dollars attacking their biggest competitor?

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 6:42 PM 4

28. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

All there advertising dollars❔... Lol❕❕

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 10:10 PM 0

30. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

Scroogled, Droidrage, even Smoked By Windows Phone all at least partially denigrated competitors, though Smoked was the least offender by far.

posted on Jan 18, 2014, 9:22 AM 1

31. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

All three of those together are barley all of MS advertising dollars.. And, remember those Mac vs PC commercials❔.. It's called business,, get over it...

posted on Jan 18, 2014, 9:41 AM 0

32. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

I wasn't a huge fan of it when Apple did it either. And yes, those campaigns do make up the bulk of Microsoft's Windows Phone advertising. I like how defensive you are now. It's delicious. You were proven wrong and now you're trying to act like Microsoft's repugnant behavior is no big deal. Congratulations. You're a fanboy now.

posted on Jan 18, 2014, 9:58 AM 1

33. UrbanPhantom

Posts: 949; Member since: Oct 30, 2012

Okay, so let's review the score: (1) bogus app infiltrating Windows App Store. (10000000000000000000000000) Bogus Android apps infiltrating Google's Playstore. That number is problably conservative too ;o) There is no comparison, and Android is still a piece o' trash when it comes to security.

posted on Jan 18, 2014, 12:37 PM 0

38. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

Says someone who has obviously paid zero attention to the many articles that have come out discussing the security measures Google has built into Android.

posted on Jan 18, 2014, 3:00 PM 1

40. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

I've always been a MS fanboi.. What have you accomplished.. Zero❕.. Try again next time, and get a life.. "Microsoft 's repugnant behavior"

posted on Jan 19, 2014, 5:03 PM 0

41. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

Continued... Grow a pair, dude❕ Get over it❕

posted on Jan 19, 2014, 5:04 PM 0

43. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

Listen to yourself. "Yeah, Microsoft does awful things that leaves a bad taste in the mouth of anyone with even a microscopic shred of decency. Get over it!!!!" No. No I won't. I don't let Apple slide on that bull, and I won't let Microsoft slide on it either.

posted on Jan 19, 2014, 5:13 PM 0

39. andynaija

Posts: 1255; Member since: Sep 08, 2012

I wish you would learn how to spell correctly and know which homophones to use because you look a little unintelligent when you type.

posted on Jan 18, 2014, 6:02 PM 0

26. willard12 unregistered

I think he's referring to Microsoft's "Scroogled" campaign.

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 8:20 PM 3

3. jaychildz

Posts: 144; Member since: May 31, 2013

Don't worry lol we'll wait.

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 4:53 PM 0

4. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

Not bad.. It's been almost 4 years, and this is the first mishap❔.. Not bad at all❕.. My question is,, why now❔

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 4:54 PM 2

8. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

Too eager to approve the apps and did not do their due diligent. I have nothing against M$ just don't like paying a few hundred for windows and a grant for Office. I use free alternative at home. Besides, my company pays for my official uses of Microsoft product.

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 5:24 PM 1

9. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

Free is very hidden in what you think is free. I would rather pay for 365 office, have support - live support, have it on linked devices and know it works that 3rd party apps. I used other apps, sure, but when push comes to shove, free apps lack what paid apps don't. Of course not all the time, but for big companies etc. There is a reason why BB Bes Services are still running strong with companies. Also, we talk about approved apps, how many times have bogus apps done this on droid? There is a reason droid had security issues, so the first breach by a copycat app, that has since been taken down (good sign MS was fast) in how many years of the store?

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 5:37 PM 1

27. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

I have no problem using open office at home and kingsoft office for my mobile. Both meet my needs just fine. In the office I use mac office to save the doc to sky drive and continue my updating with a free android office suite call kingsoft office. Work well for me. In fact I like to do my presentation from my Samsung note 2 via hdmi connection.

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 9:49 PM 0

7. pongkie

Posts: 663; Member since: Aug 20, 2011

that's why you always check the publisher

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 5:16 PM 0

10. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

The publisher used their name and logo, hence why it succeeded and why they are now seeking legal action if possible.

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 5:38 PM 1

23. pongkie

Posts: 663; Member since: Aug 20, 2011

can you post a link on the news that their name is used as the publisher. If so there is a big screw-up here by MS

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 7:10 PM 0

11. domfonusr

Posts: 1083; Member since: Jan 17, 2014

Typical Microsoft product...

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 5:57 PM 0

12. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

While it's true that stories like these are rare for Windows Phone, and I'm not here to bash the platform itself, it's worth remembering that not once, but twice, Microsoft ran Twitter campaigns encouraging people to complain about malware on Android and other general issues they had. Since then Microsoft has done everything it can to poison the well against Google and Android; BenthePCGuy endlessly retweets anything that even slightly bashes both, and that's his job, what he's paid to do. The proof of which is better will come in the fact that Google won't take this incident to run a smear campaign against Microsoft or Windows phone.

posted on Jan 17, 2014, 6:14 PM 2

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