In yet another piece for CNN.com, internet security expert Dr. Arun Vishwanath takes on the security of apps. Apps present a myriad of security risks, says Vishwanath, from collecting information without the knowledge of the user, poor programming that leaves the user's information open to hackers, and screen optimization that often visually eliminates crucial data such as the sender of an email, or the SSL padlock symbol - or lack thereof. The responsibility for remedying these weaknesses, Vishwanath argues, lies with the owners of the mobile platforms, the custodians of app stores such as Google, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft. Aside from creating design standards and mandating privacy disclosures, app stores could rate apps on security, much as the number of stars currently displayed rates functionality. 

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