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Concept
Mobile security
Summary
Mobile security, or mobile device security, is the protection of smartphones, tablets, and laptops from threats associated with wireless computing. It has become increasingly important in mobile computing. The security of personal and business information now stored on smartphones is of particular concern.
Increasingly, users and businesses use smartphones not only to communicate, but also to plan and organize their work and private life. Within companies, these technologies are causing profound changes in the organization of information systems and have therefore become the source of new risks. Indeed, smartphones collect and compile an increasing amount of sensitive information to which access must be controlled to protect the privacy of the user and the intellectual property of the company.
The majority of attacks are aimed at smartphones. These attacks take advantage of vulnerabilities discovered in smartphones that can result from different modes of communication, including Short Message Service (SMS, text messaging), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), wireless connections, Bluetooth, and GSM, the de facto international standard for mobile communications. Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is more secure than other modes of communication but can still be a target. Smartphone operating systems or browsers are another weakness. Some malware makes use of the common user's limited knowledge. Only 2.1% of users reported having first-hand contact with mobile malware, according to a 2008 McAfee study, which found that 11.6% of users had heard of someone else being harmed by the problem. Yet, it is predicted that this number will rise.
Security countermeasures are being developed and applied to smartphones, from security best practices in software to the dissemination of information to end users. Countermeasures can be implemented at all levels, including operating system development, software design, and user behavior modifications.
A smartphone user is exposed to various threats when they use their phone.
Official source
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Related courses (8)
CS-412: Software security
This course focuses on software security fundamentals, secure coding guidelines and principles, and advanced software security concepts. Students learn to assess and understand threats, learn how to d
COM-506: Student seminar: security protocols and applications
This seminar introduces the participants to the current trends, problems, and methods in the area of communication security.
COM-301: Computer security and privacy
This is an introductory course to computer security and privacy. Its goal is to provide students with means to reason about security and privacy problems, and provide them with tools to confront them.
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User Authentication and Best Practices
Covers user authentication, cryptography, and best practices for digital security.
Quantum Random Number Generation
Explores quantum random number generation, discussing the challenges and implementations of generating good randomness using quantum devices.
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Explores the Random Oracle Model, Hybrid ElGamal, and the Fujisaki Okamoto Transform in proving security.
Related publications (90)
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Related units (4)
Related concepts (2)
Pegasus (spyware)
Pegasus is spyware developed by the Israeli cyber-arms company NSO Group that is designed to be covertly and remotely installed on mobile phones running iOS and Android. While NSO Group markets Pegasus as a product for fighting crime and terrorism, governments around the world have routinely abused the spyware to surveil journalists, lawyers, political dissidents, and human rights activists. As of March 2023, Pegasus operators were able to remotely install the spyware on iOS versions through 16.0.
Information security
Information security, sometimes shortened to InfoSec, is the practice of protecting information by mitigating information risks. It is part of information risk management. It typically involves preventing or reducing the probability of unauthorized or inappropriate access to data or the unlawful use, disclosure, disruption, deletion, corruption, modification, inspection, recording, or devaluation of information. It also involves actions intended to reduce the adverse impacts of such incidents.