Code of practice plan for app stores

APP stores on smartphones, games consoles, TVS and other devices could be asked to commit to a new code of practice setting out baseline security requirements, under new proposals put forward by the Government.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has asked for views from the tech sector on the plans.

They propose placing new security and privacy requirements on app developers as well as app stores, including compelling stores to have a vulnerability reporting process for every app, and requiring more transparency from apps as to why they want access to personal information such as contact lists or a user’s location.

The plans come in response to a report from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which warns that personal data and finances are at risk because of fraudulent apps containing malicious software or poorlydeveloped apps which can be compromised by hackers.

DCMS said that despite the UK app market being worth £18.6 billion, there are few rules governing the security around the apps and the stores which host them – although all the major app stores do have their own terms of service and content rules.