The new version of the popular Android OS from Google, labeled Android 4.1 or Jellybean, has among its many new features, improved security. The overall security of the system is improved over the previous versions of the OS and Google has tried to implement several measures that will prevent the transfer of viruses and malware on devices using it.
Analysts and tech experts who have surveyed the system are of the opinion that Android has indeed gone the extra mile to protect its system with the Jellybean release. The main difference between Jellybean and the previous versions is that this one uses Address Space Layout Randomization, which randomizes address locations of the memory and another feature called Data Execution Prevention (DEP). The use of both these together reduces the chances of malware attacks because it blocks out one of the most popular ways hackers use to introduce viruses into the phone. Hackers will be unable to pinpoint the location of malicious code in the device’s memory because of the randomization.
In addition to these two, Jellybean also has protections against information leakage, buffer overflowing and several other memory vulnerabilities. However, the system is yet to implement code signing, which is useful to prevent unauthorized applications from running on the system. On the other hand, Apple’s iOS features all three security measures. This is why developers have a hard time getting even regular applications running on iOS devices without jailbreaking. The iOS 6 in fact has the ASLR method implemented in the kernel itself leading to an added security level. This innovation is essential for Android if it is to protect users’ devices against malware threats that can lead to underperformance and further worse consequences.
Though Google’s OS is meant for open source distribution and developer freedom, it is essential to have the basic security measures in place to ensure that the freedom isn’t exploited. Apple, on the other hand is being very protective of the iOS and is not exactly innovating security measures but rather defending its system against specific attacks, especially those that arise because of mandatory code signing and application verification. However, Apple’s technique to defend the system all the way down to the kernel is commendable as its devices have been running without any threat of a virus so far.
