14 DAY TRIAL // a la Mobile announced that it has integrated new security technology into its Convergent Linux Platform operating system for mobile handsets. The addition of the company's Mobile Security Engine adds enterprise-grade security functionality to mobile devices based on the Convergent Linux Platform, such as protection from malware, malicious attacks and unauthorized access, as well as device-level tamper-protection.
The Mobile Security Engine combines enterprise-class security techniques, including encryption and sandboxing, to protect against software-based threats and to guard the integrity of corporate or personal data the resides on the device, in case the handset is lost, stolen or tampered-with. What makes the Mobile Security Engine different from other security solutions is that the security technology is added at the bootloader and kernel levels, unlike the traditional smartphone security solutions that are available as applications installed on the device.
a la Mobile's Mobile Security Engine combines four security components: Secure Boot Loader - a component that ensures the integrity of the operating system against tampering at device boot time through a digital signature verification of the kernel; Encrypted File System - a component built into the kernel that ensures that all data stored in the device is safe from unauthorized or malicious access; Application sandboxing - that ensures that only digitally "signed" applications can gain access to sensitive system operations, such as reading personal user data stored in the device, placing calls or modifying system settings; and Secure Firmware Update - an element used to securely update the bootloader, the kernel and the applications.
"Increased use of data-rich applications leaves mobile devices more vulnerable to a variety of security threats such as viruses, fraud and handset thefts. A stolen handset means not only the loss of personal property; it presents security risks involving access to personal and corporate information stored on the device," said Pauline Lo Alker, CEO and President of a la Mobile. "As the only company with a complete Linux System Platform available in the market ready for delivery to handset vendors, a la Mobile is excited to announce the addition of these critical security functions to our Mobile Linux offering."