A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of IoT Companion Apps: A Look at Privacy, Security and Accessibility

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Abstract
Internet of Things (IoT) devices provide convenience to users by simplifying household tasks. Most IoTs can be remotely controlled via mobile companion apps, which constitute the main interface between devices themselves and their users. Such apps are used to configure, update, and control the device(s) and thus constitute a critical component in the IoT ecosystem. However, they have historically been understudied which prompts us to look into them. In this paper, we report on a study where we evaluated a sample of 455 IoT companion apps and analyze their privacy, security, and accessibility aspects. Our research aim is to understand these metrics, gauge their state and evaluate whether there is a correlation between them. Our primary findings from the analysis are: (i) most apps have reasonable security and accessibility posture, but in several dimensions there exists a long tail of apps with significant problems and (ii) apps tend to over-request permissions which are not related to their main goal. Moreover, the quality of an app along one aspect is uncorrelated to the same along other aspects. We conclude with actionable recommendations for companion app developers.

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