Android Is Linux-Based. Therefore, It Should Be Secure.
That being said, it is a technological advantage to put any gadget on a Unix-based framework. Linux, OS X, among other Operating System spin-offs are based on Unix. For one, Unix has been engineered to be resistant to malware. More than that, Unix locks the kernel that it takes root (superuser) administrator access to be able to make changes to the kernel. For a definition of "Kernel," please click the link.
Unlike Windows, especially the earlier versions like Windows XP, any program can make changes to the kernel, even malware.That is why a certain class of malware, which embeds itself into the kernel of an OS, is called a "rootkit" virus: it can bypass detection by a system's administrators/root users. While rootkits are rare on Unix systems, these are very common on Windows-based systems.
The parallel to Windows systems on the mobile platform is the Windows CE, Windows Mobile, Pocket PC and the other Microsoft mobile platforms. There's also the Symbian OS. On the other hand, Unix parallels on the mobile front are the Android, the Linux-based mobile OS' you can find on China Phones, and possibly even iOS and the Blackberry OS.
The reason why we at Android Alliance lumped the iOS and the Blackberry OS as parallels to the Unix-based platforms is that they are very secure systems. Unlike the earlier versions of the Symbian OS and the Windows CE mobiles, the BB OS and the iOS are far more resistant to malware breakouts than Symbian or Windows-based mobiles.
The worst effect of a malware breakout on a Windows CE or Symbian OS mobile is that it transmits copies of the malware to other phones, especially those with open Bluetooth connections. Another is that eventually, the whole system gets corrupted completely.
Suffice it to say that since the Android is built on a Linux kernel, it should be resistant to malware. Despite the fact that malware-infected apps are present in the Android Market, we have yet to hear of units transmitting and being fed malware via bluetooth, or entire Android systems being corrupted by these malware. The only major problem is that the malware mines your data and you could lose money from the apps subscribing your line to premium services. As long as you keep monitoring your plan or your load, you shouldn't have a problem. The Smart Netphone keeps a running balance of your load, by the way. Also, it even lets you access SmartNet features, including the social networking services for free. So if the Smart Netphone is the Android you get, you may never get problems like malware eating up your load or racking up a huge bill on your plan.
As we mentioned before, just install a reliable Antivirus app like Lookout, and your unit should be secure. And if you still can't sleep at night, remember, Google has a kill switch. So whenever they find numbers of malware, they could actually uninstall these infected apps from your system without you knowing. Rest easy. The Android is secure.
Tomorrow: A review of Lookout Anti-Virus Software.
Photo Credits: TechCrunch
Note: Google pulls out malware from the Android Market as soon as they discover it. They have a monitoring system for malware apps. Also, Lookout Anti-Virus Software scans an app you download from the Android Market before it gets installed. Having Lookout on your system will keep your Android safe. More details tomorrow.
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