Some mobile phone apps may contain hidden behaviors that users never see

A team of cybersecurity researchers has discovered that a large number of cell phone applications contain hardcoded secrets allowing others to access private data or block content provided by users.

The study’s findings: that the apps on mobile phones might have hidden or harmful behaviors about which end users know little to nothing.

URI computer science professor developing app to help people with intellectual disabilities report abuse

Krishna Venkatasubramanian, an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Rhode Island, is looking for a way to help through technology. Venkatasubramanian has teamed with the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission to develop an app-based tool to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities better report sexual abuse.