Android Security: A Brief Overview

By Author: Yancy Marry
Total Articles: 185

Android is a modern operating system that was meant to be entirely open from the very beginning of its inception. The mobile apps running on the Android platform use advanced software & hardware and served & local data in order to introduce both unique ideas & value to the customers. However, in order to maintain consumer value, the OS platform must also ensure security of data being used in the app development process, and security of the network, device it is being installed in, & the users of the operating system as a whole.

Being an open platform, Android requires rigorous security architecture & robust security programs; only a multi layered structure can ensure flexibility of security issues that is required for proper functioning of open operating systems. If these features were not provided by the Android platform, users would not have enjoyed the level of protection that they now see in Google’s operating system; this would in turn have led to a decline in the number of users opting for the platform for development or running of apps. However, Google had designed the Android platform keeping in mind the expectations of mobile app developers. In an attempt to reduce the burden upon software designers, Android has included flexible security controls. For amateur developers who are not familiar with these security policies, there are safe default options which help keep the mobile apps running on the platform secure.

In an attempt to satisfy the security expectations of app developers, Android has not ignored the security of mobile device users. Every customer of the OS platform can enjoy features such as greater visibility of the working pattern of Android. What is more, users can also control the working of the Android apps as per their needs. These security features have been included in the Android platform so as to prevent common virus attacks like social engineering attacks. Moreover, every Android user is advised to use malware in order to reduce the effect of any virus that may attack the Android software, especially in third party apps. In fact, Google has designed the Android OS in such a way that the probabilities of virus attacks are diminished and the impact of their attack is successfully limited.

Brief of the Android Security Program

The key components of this security guide include:

1. Design Review – The Android design model is rich & configurable; this is the reason why the security process starts very early in the development cycle. The features of the operating system are reviewed by engineering sources so as to integrate controls in the architecture.

2. Code Review and Penetration Testing – The open source components are reviewed thoroughly in Android. An Information Security Engineering team of Google, along with Android’s own security team and a group of independent security consultants conduct reviews of the platform in order to identify any vulnerability or weakness.

3. Community Review and Open Source – The Open Source Project of Android allows all interested parties to conduct broad security reviews. Open source technology like Linux kernel is also used to externally review the security standards & simulate security analysis.

Being an open and one of the most popular OS platforms, Android is a target for hackers. However, the strict security standards maintained by the operating system ensure its safety for developers and users.

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