Operating systems of smartphones needs to be checked for better security: CMR

According to the new report by Cyber Media Research (CMR), there is a need to keep a check over the ecosystem which includes operating software (OS) and apps to ensure the security of users data.

The research firm said that, at present, over 90 percent of smartphones run on Google Android OS and with each upgrade of the OS, Google has hardened the security of the devices. However, the problem is that handset makers do not upgrade the versions on existing devices in use as a routine. Also, there is a strong correlation between the latest OS version and the price of a smartphone.

Over 22 percent of the shipments of smartphones were priced up to Rs. 6,000 and the above chart depicts the OS Version spread skewed towards earlier versions of Android and this keeps the typically less aware user profile purchasing entry level smartphones deprived of the security improvements that Google brings at the OS level.

CMR also believes that while handset manufacturers can be mandated by the government to ensure that OS upgrades, as rolled out by Google are instantly pushed across to users across price segments, especially the security patches. Beyond this, handset vendors can also be audited for the information they collect via UIs that are installed on the handsets.

For ensuring a secure environment for privacy and data for a user, along with hardware the software aspects especially apps also need to be taken in to account. Apps go through predefined checks of Google after which they are published on the Play Store. Once, available on the Play Store, handset vendors cannot control what is to be enabled or not, on to a device, the report further said.

CMR pointed out that awareness among users also has a critical role to play. For instance, one of the most popular apps used in India True Caller, which majority of us see as an app offering Caller ID facility, has too many permissions that it asks for while someone installs the app. Very few users must be going through such details and ultimately would be passing on information which they would never be thinking of.