Researchers find security flaws in phone apps, encourage people to install mobile security programs

(CBS 58) -- Leaders from Check Point Research recently looked at the safety vulnerabilities of many popular phone apps.

Researchers say they found several security flaws in apps in the Google Play store including Facebook, Instagram, WeChat and the Yahoo browser.

"We found hundreds of applications that are hosted on Google Play that are vulnerable to modern, updated versions of applications and are vulnerable to these multi-year-old attacks," Check Point Software head of engineering Kierk Sanderlin said. "So that's very disconcerting."

Sanderlin said a lot of people believe when they update their apps, the application is becoming more safe, but that isn't necessarily true. 

Just like with computers, Sanderlin said it's important to protect your phone from hackers.

"We're using the mobile device as our personal computer," he said. "It's always on, it's always with us and we thought that this device is more secure, it's a closed system and that's not the case."

There are several cyber security programs available to install on a cell phone. More information can be found on Check Point's website.