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Security and Smartphones

By Parker Moore

The Smartphone Takeover

Half of mobile phone subscribers in the United States have a smartphone. An estimated 128 million

smartphones

Over 90% of these people are on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile.

Uses of Smartphones

Sending and Receiving emails

Money transactions

Entertainment

Social Networking

Location based navigation

Surfing the internet

The Two Contenders

iPhone A single line of phones,

single OS

Closed source operating system

“App store” for software downloads

Android Many different phones,

single OS

Open source operating system

“Android market” for software downloads

iPhone Security Measures

“Chain of trust” Boot ROM Low Level Bootloader “iBoot” runs the OS kernel Apple Signed Code only

No Operating System Downgrading Prevents use of old

vulnerabilities

iPhone Security Measures

Third party applications run in a “Sandbox” Applications are designated a random

“home” directory Applications may not access another

applications data If an application does need to access outside of its

sandbox it must use a designated API.

iPhone Security Measures

AES encryption AES 256-bit keys fused into the application processor

during manufacturing AES crypto engine built into path between flash storage

and main memory Passcodes

4 digit and arbitrary length Iteration count to slow down brute force Optional: wipe device after 10 failed passwords

Carriers and Privacy

Typically, smartphones are connected to the internet through a data plan arranged with a cellphone provider.

Carriers have too much information about the user As many as 1.3 million request for call information

made by law enforcement Potential for GPS tracking

Conclusion

Cell phones are a great innovation In many cases, consumers must trust creators to

be smart about security Should still strive to keep personal information

personal Utilize extra security features available if

necessary

Sources

Information: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/sunday-review/thats-not-my-phone-its-my-tracker.html?_r=0 http://source.android.com/tech/security/ http://images.apple.com/ipad/business/docs/iOS_Security_May12.pdf http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CIIBEBYwBQ&url=http

%3A%2F%2Fmarketingland.com%2Fpew-and-nielsen-say-smartphones-now-50-percent-when-will-comscore-join-the-club-8979&ei=Sai-UK-PFpPU8wTT5YDoCA&usg=AFQjCNFSRmXIvPcIEmBf_YxYZqBeAIfD_g

Images: http://www.macworld.co.uk/macsoftware/news/?newsid=3360179 http://www.avocados.com.ua/ru-13316/eshop/15-1-Parrot-kvadrokopter/0/5/365-Parrot-A-R-Drone-2-0 http://telecominrwanda.blogspot.com/ http://www.ferra.ru/ru/soft/news/2012/06/06/Apple-iOS-Security-pdf/ http://www.trendbird.biz/entry/Trendbird-Smartphones-Have-Become-a-Digital-%E2%80%9CSwiss-

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