Smartphone OS in detail
Like it or not system administrators, but all kinds of mobile systems are becoming more common, including corporate networks. How, in this regard the situation with the safety of three operating systems for smartphones - from companies Microsoft, Google and Apple - and what you should pay special attention when implementing and operating?Microsoft has already released quite a long time operating system called Windows Mobile, optimized for use on mobile devices. Although it is based on the Microsoft Win32 API interface and outwardly very similar to it, people celebrated their little similarity in terms of architecture. In the appeared in February 2010, the system of Windows Phone 7 has changed not only the management and appearance: it is a completely new design, based on Windows CE 6.0 R3 and the elements of Windows Embedded Compact 7. Earlier permit freedom of access to files and software purchase now is not.
Moreover, because of the stringent requirements for Microsoft OEMs, unfortunately, there is no such mobile devices, on which version 6.5 could be updated to the latest version of the seventh. However, in this era of radical change for users of smartphones on the Windows platform is not over yet: the announcement of the next generation - Windows Phone 8 - means that Microsoft is once again radically changes its approach. In this embodiment the operating system kernel will be used Windows NT, i.e. in this case will not be able to update - a device equipped with Windows Phone 7 can not pass to the eighth version.
However, the underlying concept of operating systems Windows Phone 7 and 8 remained unchanged . Thus, for reasons of operational safety for these systems available a series of programs. In addition, Windows Phone prohibits the application in the background in the traditional sense of the process. If the application is closed, it is completely disabled and not go into standby mode or background mode. This practice has great advantages in terms of overall security systems, almost any malicious application, which attempts to influence the operating system assumes that programs operating in the background.
Evolution of the security model in Windows Phone: exhibition TechEd Europe 2012, Microsoft demonstrated how to develop a security system in the upcoming operating system Windows Phone. On the left a model of Windows Phone 7, on the right - Windows Phone 8.
In Windows Phone 7 is fundamentally prohibited direct function of sending SMS: the user has to select the "Send" button in the message menu. Each application can store and retrieve their own data only, it has no access to the files of other programs. According to the requirements of Microsoft, in devices on Windows Phone 7 can not use removable information storage media, such as card SD. However, in Windows Phone 8, this restriction is removed, and users can install an SD card in their phones. I must say that some manufacturers have already used in systems based on Windows Phone 7 built-cards SD, by which theoretically could access the data. But in practice, such access is not possible due to the model file system provides for a single partition (Single Partition): built-in SD card and built-in memory of the smartphone on Windows Phone always form a coherent whole. If the card will draw, the operating system erases all the information contained in the internal memory.
In Windows Phone manufacturer intends to further tighten security measures. Technology Safe Boot, which, as stated by Microsoft, users will not be able to get around (the so-called Trusted Bootloader), and full encryption of internal memory card designed to increase the degree of protection. In addition, applications for Windows Phone expected changes in the part of the security: Now, to run all executable (binary) files on Windows Phone 8, they must be digitally signed by Microsoft. In Windows Phone 7, this restriction only applies while on Microsoft applications and programs that fall into the system through the store Microsoft Marketplace.
