Are you a Citigroup mobile banking customer? If you answered yes, rush to your iPhone and update your Citi Mobile iPhone app as soon as possible.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Citigroup has informed its mobile banking customers in the U.S. that the original version of their Citi Mobile iPhone app has a security flaw. The Citi Mobile app, the 11th most popular app in the finance category of Apple’s App Store, allows customers to check balances, transfer funds and pay bills.
The app “accidentally” saved personal account information in a hidden file on users’ iPhones, which includes sensitive information such as account numbers, bill payments and security access codes. To make matters worse, the information may also be stored on the user’s computer if the iPhone was synced with a PC.
According to the report, Citi said it doesn’t believe the data was breached and said its new app corrects the problem. “We have no reason to believe that our customers’ personal information has been accessed or used inappropriately by anyone,” Citi said.
The security issue was discovered during a test of the app, and upon discovering the issue, Citi notified customers of the flaw in a letter dated July 20. Fortunately for customers, the Citi iPhone app for credit card customers was not affected.
Did you receive notice of the issue and have you updated your iPhone app?
Why don’t make big news about the update, without saying why….. hackers are rushing to their computers too….
Thomas:
Thanks for your idea, but asking those to update without saying why would not launch the necessary call to action. Many may dismiss the story and update at their leisure. Reporting why users need to update the app will cause a greater number to do so if they have not already.
Oh great so now not only do iPhone users get their pockets drained by Apple, but they now have Apps making their bank accounts available to the World too. The World of the Jesus Phone! …..what miracles can we expect next? How about phone calls that don’t get dropped or maybe some real games like what will be on WP7 Phones! ;-) …..maybe a real social network that actually keeps your info secure like on “Live Anywhere”!
Kron: I know. Crazy right? Ladies and gentlemen, it appears we have a Microsoft advocate in our midst.
That said, odd choice of comment names Mr. Ballmer. Just kidding. Security is an issue for all mobile devices. When WP7 has an issue, I will expect a strong defense from you Kron. You’ve drawn a line in the sand and now will be responsible for defending it.
Thanks for reading and defending your device of choice.
Jeff.