CBS Sports App Left User Data Vulnerable During March Madness

CBS Sports App Left User Data Vulnerable During March Madness

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Apr 13, 2016

Millions of college basketball fans used the CBS Sports app and website during the March Madness tournament may have had their personal information leaked by the popular sports channel due to the lack of encryption on the data.

A report by mobile data management and security firm Wandera found a data leak on the CBS Sports app (downloaded 5 million to 10 million times on Google Play and one of the top sports apps in the iTunes store) and mobile website during the tournament, which allowed for user data to be compromised.

While CBS Sports denies any kind of breach, Wandera says that they found that anyone using their mobile device on public Wi-Fi would have been exposed to the vulnerability.

The report found that both Andriod and iOS versions of the CBS Sports app and the CBS mobile website failed to protect user names, dates of birth, email addresses, account passwords in clear text and ZIP codes. Credit card and social security information was not revealed, however.

Wandera said that just because they were able to tap into that information does not mean that an attacker already has, but it is possible. CBS Sports denied the claims of a data breach and said it is rigorous about monitoring its platforms for any potential security issues.

"There was no data breach on either the CBS Sports app or mobile site," CBS Sports Digital said in a statement. "We take issue with outside companies publicizing the security operations of other firms for their own purposes rather than user protection."

Wandera says it came across the vulnerability unexpectedly while doing research on sports applications ahead of March Madness. As its engineers tracked data across multiple sports sites, they noticed data coming across its cloud service from CBS.

Once the vulnerability was discovered, CBS was immediately notified. After about a month, CBS notified Wandera that the problem had been fixed.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Windsor Port Authority Strengthens U.S.-Canada Border Waterway Safety, Security

    Windsor Port Authority, one of just 17 national ports created by the 1999 Canada Marine Act, has enhanced waterway safety and security across its jurisdiction on the U.S.-Canada border with state-of-the-art cameras from Axis Communications. These cameras, combined with radar solutions from Accipiter Radar Technologies Inc., provide the port with the visibility needed to prevent collisions, better detect illegal activity, and save lives along the river. Read Now

  • Survey: 84 Percent of Healthcare Organizations Spotted Cyberattack in Last 12 Months

    Netwrix, a vendor specializing in cybersecurity solutions focused on data and identity threats, surveyed 1,309 IT and security professionals globally and recently released findings for the healthcare sector based on the data collected. It reveals that 84% of organizations in the healthcare sector spotted a cyberattack on their infrastructure within the last 12 months. Phishing was the most common type of incident experienced on premises, similar to other industries. Read Now

  • Keynote Speakers Announced for ISC West 2025

    ISC West, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor the Security Industry Association (SIA), unveiled its 2025 Keynote Series. Featuring a powerhouse lineup of experts in cybersecurity, retail security, and leadership, each keynote will offer invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities transforming the field of security. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

  • Study: Video Doorbells Have a 71% Service Attach Rate

    Parks Associates recently announced a new white paper, Consumer IoT Product Development: Managing Costs, Optimizing Revenues, which provides companies with a business-planning blueprint to evaluate how a consumer IoT solution will perform across its lifetime. Subscription services, such as video storage and professional monitoring, can be critical for covering ongoing cloud and support costs Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening. 3