DHS Project Finds Security Vulnerabilities in First Responder Apps

DHS Project Finds Security Vulnerabilities in First Responder Apps

The DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate “Securing Mobile Applications for First Responders” report said that security flaws were discovered on 32 of the 33 popular apps tested.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Dec 20, 2017

A pilot project launched by the Department of Homeland Security has discovered critical flaws in 18 mobile apps used by public safety officials to respond to emergencies. The DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate “Securing Mobile Applications for First Responders” report said that security flaws were discovered on 32 of the 33 popular apps tested.

The department established the program in partnership with the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and mobile app vetting company Kryptowire to test the cyberattacj vulnerability of apps used in the public safety sector. The Mobile Application Security project aims for continuous validation and threat protection for mobile apps and the security integration throughout the lifecycle of these apps.

For their study, participants selected 33 popular iOS and Android apps and tested each app’s security, privacy, and information and device access. Potential security and privacy concerns, such as access to the device camera, contacts or SMS messages, were discovered in 32 of the 33 apps, DHS said. “Critical flaws” were found in 18 of the apps.

Pilot project leaders worked with each app developer to fix the identified vulnerabilities in 14 mobile apps. According to DHS, most developers reported spending about one hour remedying their app’s vulnerabilities, with solutions including the removal of old or unused code, the enabling of built-in security provided by the operating system, and confirmation that the functionality requested is necessary for operations.

Project leaders stressed the usefulness of an ongoing app-testing program for the public safety community and the public at large.

“As more apps are adopted for public-safety missions, it is critical that a formal, ongoing app-evaluation process with incentives for developer participation be adopted to ensure current and new mobile apps are free of vulnerabilities,” said John Merrill, Director of the S&T FRG Next Generation First Responder Apex program.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • AI Is Now the Leading Cybersecurity Concern for Security, IT Leaders

    Arctic Wolf recently published findings from its State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report, offering insights from a global survey of more than 1,200 senior IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across 15 countries. Conducted by Sapio Research, the report captures the realities, risks, and readiness strategies shaping the modern security landscape. Read Now

  • Analysis of AI Tools Shows 85 Percent Have Been Breached

    AI tools are becoming essential to modern work, but their fast, unmonitored adoption is creating a new kind of security risk. Recent surveys reveal a clear trend – employees are rapidly adopting consumer-facing AI tools without employer approval, IT oversight, or any clear security policies. According to Cybernews Business Digital Index, nearly 90% of analyzed AI tools have been exposed to data breaches, putting businesses at severe risk. Read Now

  • Software Vulnerabilities Surged 61 Percent in 2024, According to New Report

    Action1, a provider of autonomous endpoint management (AEM) solutions, today released its 2025 Software Vulnerability Ratings Report, revealing a 61% year-over-year surge in discovered software vulnerabilities and a 96% spike in exploited vulnerabilities throughout 2024, amid an increasingly aggressive threat landscape. Read Now

  • Motorola Solutions Named Official Safety Technology Supplier of the Ryder Cup through 2027

    Motorola Solutions has today been named the Official Safety Technology Supplier of the 2025 and 2027 Ryder Cup, professional golf’s renowned biennial team competition between the United States and Europe. Read Now

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.