Android Security
Researcher: Nils
Date Started: May 01, 2010
Android is a mobile operating systems intended for use in tablets and smartphones. Development of this open source platform is led by Google and started in 2005. In recent years it has emerged as the most popular smartphone operating system, with over 200 million Android devices world-wide.
This research project focuses on the security of the Android platform, devices, ecosystem and applications. The Linux based operating system implements an application sandbox in order to enforce access restrictions on the devices and to separate installed applications. This research project helps MWR to understand the security implications of the platform that led to the discovery of a multitude of vulnerabilities on Android devices, many of which were introduced by the OEM vendors.
Output of this research project includes a comprehensive Android application review methodology and an Android security workshop which is used for training internally and is regularly presented at security conferences and to interested third parties.