Smart phones could be watching you

It found nearly a quarter of iPhone apps and nearly half the Android ones secretly pull data off the phones and send them to third parties without notifications. That data could include contacts, photos, texts and search histories. The information is used by companies to target ads to users, but Lookout says that data could be vulnerable to hacking.

Google says it offers warnings with Android but advises users to only install apps they trust. Apple did not respond to calls for comment.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)