Starbucks updates its iOS app in an attempt to address security concerns

Starbucks updates its iOS app in an attempt to address security concernsSubmitted by Sumit Yayavar on Sat, 01/18/2014 - 12:29 

A recent blog post update published on the official Starbucks blog shows that the company has released an updated edition of the Starbucks Mobile App for iOS, in an evident attempt to provide additional layers of protection to the users of the app.
The move by Starbucks to update its iOS app comes after ComputerWorld's Evan Schuman exposed security vulnerabilities in the Starbucks mobile app on Wednesday.  The expose by Schuman followed a Tuesday-published research by security researcher Daniel Wood, who revealed that the Starbucks mobile payment app - which apparently is the most popular mobile payment system in the US - was exposing the personal information of iOS users to potential theft.

While the Starbucks iOS app before the update used plaintext usernames and passwords - thus facilitating potential hackers in sniffing out the users' account details and accessing their personal data -, Starbucks said that the security vulnerabilities have now been addressed via the update.
The company said that the updated version of the Starbucks iOS app boasts the addition of "several safeguards to protect the information" which the app's users share with the company.  Starbucks has also urged the users of the app to download the update as an extra safeguard measure.
Moreover, Starbucks also added that "out of an abundance of caution," it would, in the near future, "accelerate the deployment of an update for the app that will add extra layers of protection."