In this digital world, plethora of smart phones are available in the market. With the help of smart phones and tablets users can easily play games, surf internet, watch TV, carry out important banking transaction, etc. in simple and prompt manner. Consequently, these smartphones are becoming more and more popular among individuals. the experience of desktop and laptop operation, users frequently ponder that their smartphone will meet the issues of malicious software like virus, Trojan horse etc.
Owing to the raising smartphones’ popularity, many questions always pop-up in the mind of individuals. Some common questions like do the users need any phone security software and how to make the developed phone application become safer? Before answering these frequent questions, we need to look at the security features of typical smart phones operation systems. At present, the mainstream operating systems are Android, RIM, iPhone, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Palm, and Linux. A brief introduction of these operating systems security is as following:
For installing any software program on iPhone, you need to search that software program in the official software shop of apple. Moreover, the supervision of the safety and function of software is extremely strict. Nevertheless, some people are not pleased with its locked and monopolistic conduct. In terms of security, the iPhone consumers do not need to worry much. Similar to the iPone, the users of Google’s android is only able to install the software program from official software store also known as Google play store. With strict mobile security testing, Google constantly attempt to make its operating-system more secure.
Symbian is a relatively complicated operating-system. There is Symbian S40, the first, second, third and fifth version of S60 and also UIQ on the market. The software installed on the third version of Symbian S60 as well as other versions after it ought to have a certificate of security from the Symbian authority. Though there is absolutely no limit of official software shop for Symbian operating-system, the official security identity is pretty enough for S60 hi-end smart phones. If anyone desires to publish normal software program, he has to conquer a lot of obstacles. He needs to pay 200 $ for the developer qualification and 20$ for the identity to be able to get wide application each time.
It is simple to make the malicious software program, but it is not possible to install it on the smart phone to spread. About the first and second versions of S60, Nokia failed to launch the smartphones after its N90 models launched in 2005. Since their security identity level is low, the related products are not sold in the market anymore.
Other operating-system is Palm OS that is initially developed by Palm, Inc., for personal digital assistants (PDAs) in 1996. It had been designed for the simplicity with a touch screen based graphical user user interface. It can be believed that the Palm OS has withdrawn the smart phone field. The recently released operating-system, Palm pre, will come with the Web OS. Though there is absolutely no real model currently, it is believed that the modern operating-system will pay special attention to the security.
Linux operating-system is not widely used on smartphone. But, this operating-system is always used by Motorola. Even though, the market share of Linux is not big, it appears to be more secure. Alternatively, there is no strict security identity limit for the blackberry’s RIM. The same as Symbian S40, it is the risk system with huge market share. Therefore, for these operating systems penetration testing services are the most effective resolution to enhance their security.