OEMs still the Achilles heel of Android security, say boffins Good, but not good enough: that's the verdict of a bunch of researchers who checked out the security model that Google's applied to Android since the Lollipop 5.0 release. In this Arxiv paper, Elena Reshetova and her collaborators from Finland's Aalto University (with support from Intel) look over the post-Lollipop era, in …
The more you customise and move away from trunk, the more work you have to do. So when OEMs (and networks) pile on their own "added value", they make more work for themselves and start to bleat that upgrades are too much effort.
Well here's a startling concept. Sell phones with vanilla Android and let Google take the strain.
This is why iPhone remains superior. One OS, one variation, one set of updates. Not the dogs-dinner of semi usable effluent you find in the Android arena.
Windows Phone? Doesn't really matter, no sane person would use a MS phone.
"It didn't really need Boffins to be called in to determine this, surely?"
Yes and No!
I think people (ie. application development businesses) tend to pay more attention to 'boffins'.
Also going back to a previous comment:
"This is why iPhone remains superior. One OS, one variation, one set of updates. Not the dogs-dinner of semi usable effluent you find in the Android arena."
In some ways yes, the iPhone is 'superior' however, the Google approach has enabled a lot of rapid innovation; some of which Apple has used in iOS and the iPhone... However, just like desktop OS's, it is helpful to review things and consolidate the experience. I therefore look at this report as being part of this learning, so don't be surprised if Google tightens the rules...
I've just replaced my Nexus 4 with a Nexus 5x. I totally agree with the critics on HotUKDeals and elsewhere who tell me I could get the same hardware functionality or better for £100 less.
That's what I willingly pay for probably the least worst security risk. Its worth £100 to be able to run a phone for 2/3 years and know its probably more secure than anything from the other Android vendors.
The old Nexus 4 is still receiving updates (got a new one last week) which, I think, is well beyond Google's original commitment. Google just need more competition in this marketplace. Moto X Play and Wileyfox Cyanogen are welcome entrants but both still have a few questions to answer.
The old Nexus 4 is still receiving updates (got a new one last week) which, I think, is well beyond Google's original commitment.
I'm impressed. People bitch that XP "only" got it for a decade, yet a phone is not expected to be patched for more than a couple of years.
"I'm impressed. People bitch that XP "only" got it for a decade, yet a phone is not expected to be patched for more than a couple of years."
Spot on. If and when 4/5X support ends I can probably stretch life even further by putting on the latest Cyanogenmod. Whereas most of the cheap chinese/carrier branded models' safe secure shelf life may already have gone by the time you get it. Good for landfill if you want security.
The true cost is initial cost/years in use. I foresee with the maturity in the market the hardware is good for longer and longer - just like the PC market where 2 years was once the norm but it is 4/5 years now ime.
Trouble is the carriers' monthly contract obscures the real cost reality. Something car manufacurers are trying to replicate? Where once they would splash £9,995 sales price its now £99/month for some obscure complicated agreement.
My expectations for security was pretty low thanks to M$, but other than Google's lack of privacy they are a huge improvement.
I've had plenty of malware incidents to deal with on my family's machines (Windows), but when they all went to using tablets this all stopped.
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Anyone out there come across any tablet malware in the wild?
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