As Google officially rolls out it's new operating system Lollipop,
let's review some of the enhanced security features added to Android 5.0.
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| Lollipop |
Kill switch
The most interesting new security feature is the Factory Reset Protection
option, which is also known as the “kill switch.” To aid corporate and personal users dealing with stolen devices, the personal data stored within the device can now be remotely wiped and the phone made inoperable. With reports suggesting that over 3 million Americans had their smart phones stolen last year, it's easy to see why Google has added this feature to Lollipop.
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| Device management. |
Encryption on the
fly
Another valuable security feature available in Lollipop is default
encryption. Although not an entirely new feature as previous Android
did offer encryption, it needed to be explicitly enabled by the user. With Lollipop, the initial boot will prompt users to
activate encryption. Thereafter, new data will be
encrypted on the fly.
Improved malware
protection and sandboxing
Lollipop is armed with SELinux (Security
Enhanced Linux), which aims to provide enhanced protection against malware and
vulnerabilities. This feature ensures secure app
isolation, which helps to keep private data secure should the device be compromised.
Smart Device Lock
The real privacy danger for
most users is simply leaving a device unlocked and then having someone else gain access to personal data and open social profiles. Locking
phone features should not be a tedious task that users avoid. Lollipop therefore introduces a new feature called
Smart Lock to help combat this problem.
Smart Lock adds the ability to set trusted locations such as home or the office, where your device will open automatically once you enter that region. You can do the same in conjunction with specific Bluetooth and NFC enabled Android Wear smart watches. When sensing these trusted devices, Lollipop
phones/tablets will lower their security shields as the owner is presumably present. Users are also able to set notification access prior to a security lock to allow actions such as sending a message.
Multiple User Profiles
As Internet social profiles and personal data like photos
and contacts are generally the most sensitive information for a user, lending a phone to another person creates a security risk. Lollipop solves this issue by permitting multiple
user profiles. Users can create a different guest profile which
has limited access. The Owner account has access to
the entire device and everything within it, as well as control over other
profiles on the device. A User account, on the other hand, has limited access
to certain apps and content controlled by the device’s main user, as well as
limited calling and SMS capabilities. This feature is also beneficial for parents
who can give their phone to their kids and only grant them access to a specific app or a
game that they want them to play and nothing else on the device.
Want to scan Android apps for security and privacy issues? Try ZAP.
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