BlackBerry 10 OS to Offer Enhanced, Multi-Layered Security

When released, BlackBerry 10, the next-gen mobile operating system from Canadian handset vendor Research In Motion will deliver an enhanced security model when compared to the current platform on the company’s devices. 

The handset vendor has focused on improving the security of its handsets, and Scott Totzke, RIM's senior vice president, BlackBerry security, has detailed it, networkworld reports. 

The company is determined to make its platform appealing again, and this area is one of the important aspects that users take into consideration when planning a purchase. 

“The industry has been promising mobile commerce to consumers for years: the idea of using your phone as your wallet. But if that happens, it better be secure," Totzke says. "If the user can't trust the mobile platform, it's a tough sell."

Following the purchase of QNX, RIM has started the work on ensuring that the various weaknesses of the platform are resolved, and that the level of security that users will benefit from is enhanced. 

Thus, some of the protection features that the phone maker has been focused on include the blocking root access, so that user or hackers are prevented from gaining administrative access to the OS.

Additionally, the upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform will arrive with memory randomization, which is meant to "scramble" where in memory routines may run, so that attackers would find it more difficult to exploit the platform. 

At the same time, the company has been working on adding security management features such as auditing to the kernel.

The BlackBerry Playbook OS already came with improved security features, but things need to be done better, it appears, especially since some of these data protection capabilities will also make it to the BlackBerry 10 OS. 

There are other levels of protection as well, most of which will be actually invisible to the end user. However, the platform seems to promise increased security, especially when it comes to taking advantage of mobile payment technologies.

Posted in: Mobile Phone, Preview, Software