US regulators concerned about poor smartphone security

Bloomberg reports the FCC and FTC have launched an inquiry to learn more about how and when smartphone makers and mobile carriers release security updates to protect clients against cybercriminals.

Letters went to the top four US wireless providers, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Spring, as well as to Apple, Alphabet's Google, BlackBerry, HTC America, LG Electronics USA, Microsoft, Motorola Mobility and Samsung Electronics America.

The FCC explains in the letters that they're concerned about the state of mobile phone security as it seems consumers may be left unprotected for long periods of time, or even indefinitely as older devices rarely get patched. The FCC and FTC aim to examine how patches are distributed and aim to rectify the situation.

Smartphone makers such as Apple Inc. and Google and mobile carriers including AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. face an inquiry by U.S. regulators into how they review and release security updates to combat cyberthieves and Internet vandals. The Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission both issued statements Monday saying they want to know more about how and when vulnerabilities are being patched as consumers and businesses face hacking threats related to their increased reliance on mobile broadband.