Security of smartphones at the dawn of their ubiquitousness [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Michael Becher

Security of Smartphonesat the Dawn of their UbiquitousnessInauguraldissertationzur Erlangung des akademischen Gradeseines Doktors der Naturwissenschaftender Universität Mannheimvorgelegt vonMichael Becheraus Kleve, DeutschlandMannheim, 2009Dekan: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Felix Freiling, Universität MannheimReferent: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Felix UnivKorreferent: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrike Meyer, RWTH AachenTag der mündlichen Prüfung: 09.10.2009iiiAbstractThe importance of researching in the field of smartphone security is substantiated inthe increasing number of smartphones, which are expected to outnumber commoncomputers in the future. Despite their increasing importance, it is unclear todayif mobile malware will play the same role for mobile devices as for commoncomputers today. Therefore, this thesis contributes to defining and structuringthe field mobile device security with special concern on smartphones and on theoperational side of security, i.e., with mobile malware as the main attacker model.Additionally, it wants to give an understanding of the shifting boundaries of theattack surface in this emerging research field.The first three chapters introduce and structure the research field with the maingoal of showing what has to be defended against today. Besides introducing relatedwork they structure mobile device attack vectors with regard to mobile malicioussoftware and they structure the topic of mobile malicious software itself with regardto its portability.