FINGERPRINT APPS MAY STEAL YOUR IDENTITY

If you live in the world of smartphones and tablets, you've undoubtedly been offered fingerprint apps. They advertise high-tech security and fun, but what do they really deliver? Your information and fingerprints in a database, shuffled across the internet highway for all to see.

There's Fingerprint Lock, Fingerprint Lock Free, Fingerprint Scanner FREE, Fingerprint Screen Lock ICS, and countless others. Check the permissions tab on those apps. They want approximate and precise GPS location information, full network access,  the ability to "read phone status and identity" and the ability to view your and edit your web bookmarks and history.

What do you think these app developers do with your fingerprint information?

• Is it secure? If multinational banks can't keep records safe, it's doubtful poor app makers can. Hackers and evildoers will be doing their best to get this info, and what's to stop them from planting your fingerprints at a crime scene? It's not that crazy.
• Is it sold? A buck an app isn't much money, but personally identifying information is worth boatloads in today's marketing culture. Is your identity being sold to marketers, or are the app makers the marketers themselves?
• What about the government? The government would love a database of everyone's DNA and fingerprints. And with the ability to link that fingerprint to browsing and download info, who knows how legally unscrupulous things could get.

The app world is filled with fun and innovative things, but you should always be wary of what permissions you have to give your apps, and what personal information they are using. This goes for fingerprint scanners, facial recognition software, photo apps, and more. Every app is a potential threat. Keep yourself and your information safe.