UK’s NHS is all set to launch its COVID 19 tracking app dubbed NSHX at some time this week and initially only the healthcare staff from Isle of Wight island and then the 140,000 populace will be allowed to access the beta version of the “ Test, Track & Trace” Contact- Tracing app. After which NHS is planning to roll it out to other populace across Britain.
But security experts warn that the app might lead to fake symptoms filing and might also become a soft target to foreign nation hackers who would either try to overload it with patient symptoms or manipulate the functionality leading to its crash within the first few days of its launch.
Technically speaking, the NSHX app is world second app after India’s Aarogya Setu App which allows an element of self- reporting for COVID 19 probable’s with symptoms. It is an app where the user is allowed to contact NHS if he/she develops Corona Virus symptoms after which a Yellow alert will be triggered to all those phone users who came into contact with the person-provided all have downloaded the app and have their Bluetooth on at all times.
After a week, a red alert will be follow up if the NSHX app user derived patient test results confirm the virus presence. But for this to take place a PIN provided by the NHS server have to be initiated to trigger the red alert and their contacts are tracked down and sent to quarantine if/when needed.
Meanwhile, Lawyers and privacy advocates suggest that the new app will land NHS in data privacy and protection troubles. But the healthcare provider says that the app initially will only seek the information like name and postal-code and thereafter will store details on the server only if the user is diagnosed with the Novel COVID 19 Virus.
Note- France and Germany have rejected the idea of having their own COVID 19 tracking app due to data security concerns and are instead focusing more on developing a sure-shot vaccine for the deadly virus.
