A recent project named Firehound, led by security research lab CovertLabs, has uncovered a significant number of apps on the Apple App Store that compromise user privacy. As of now, the initiative has identified 198 iOS applications that are involved in exposing user data, with a staggering 196 of these apps leaking sensitive information.
The app Chat & Ask AI stands out in this troubling discovery, as it has been reported to leak over 406 million records from more than 18 million users. Following these findings, researcher @Harrris0n urged users to stop using the app immediately due to a critical vulnerability that allows access to entire chat histories.
Firehound's scans reveal that many apps are vulnerable due to poorly secured databases, with a majority linked to artificial intelligence. Categories affected include Education, Entertainment, and Social Networking. Although the platform provides limited access to scan results, users can register for more detailed data, with priority given to journalists and security professionals.