Clip of the Day: Nat King Cole
In the last post, I discussed Android fragmentation. Teleworkers also should be aware of the operating system’s unique security challenges.
Android is an open source initiative. That means that the source code – the heart of the OS – is available to everyone – including the bad guys. That is not the case when dealing with proprietary operating systems such as Windows Phone, BlackBerry or Apple’s iOS. That source code is hidden except for those to whom access is granted.
There is an age old debate on which approach is more secure: Proprietary systems would at first glance seem to be. It’s not that simple, however: In a proprietary world, sloppy development practices, code mistakes and other problems are not seen by others – including others who would help fix them. Since open source is available to everyone, a huge and vibrant community runs herd over Android and other open source projects and jumps on every issue. Bottom line: There are two approaches and a debate exists about which is better. Teleworkers should be aware of the general landscape and know which boat they are getting into before they opt for a device.
Of more immediate concern to teleworkers are applications available from Android Market or third party applications storefronts. Teleworkers should be extraordinarily careful about both what they download and the permissions they grant to those applications. Indeed, the Android Market was said to harbor a great deal of dangerous applications. Last week, it announced Bouncer, a scanning technology that examines applications and catches those carrying malware. Bouncer has been operational for a few months and, according to Google, is greatly increasing the online storefront’s security.
Here are some tips for application security:
- Be careful of the source. Third party application stores can be very dangerous.
- Be careful what you download. Free and cheesy looking applications should be bypassed.
- Be careful where you download. If the storefront looks dangerous, it probably is.
- Be care what permissions you grant. Read the fine print.
- Install security software and keep it updated. Smartphones and tablets really are little computers.
- If your mobile work involves sensitive material, consider using a separate device. Penny-wise, pound-foolish.
- Work with the IT department to secure devices. There is a world of new software that goes beyond AV.
As Sergeant Phil Esterhaus often said on the great television show Hill Street Blues: “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”
