Android Pie privacy enhancements and security features

According to recent report, Android Pie or Android 9 is currently installed on 10.4% of devices and its still rolling out to more of handsets. What’s new in android pie? Compared to previous versions, the android pie brings several features such as new user interface, redesigned power menu & volume slider, gesture navigations, digital wellbeing and most important part is privacy and security enhancement.

As I said android pie is specially developed to prevent the spamming apps that stoles the sensitive information of users and important credentials (like login, banking transaction) without permission. Even the banking transactions can be done securely with android protected confirmation, which uses the hardware managed secured UI to get the confirmation from user. Here we’ve listed the some privacy and security features that are incorporated with android pie os.

Background app restriction: Some spy apps that runs in background were secretly accessed the mic, camera and other sensors to track and report the user activities. But in android pie version the restriction has been tightened, only the active apps can utilize the mic or camera or other sensors with user permission.

Lockdown mode: Once the lockdown mode has been activated it will restrict fingerprint and face unlock biometrics to unlock your device. You can unlock the device only with pin, password or pattern lock. To activate the lockdown mode press the power button for few seconds and it will be listed in the menu. It’s also listed in the Lock screen preferences in settings menu.

Default HTTPS: Android Pie forces the developers to make HTTPS as default to all apps. If you surfing on the internet, you will see the green lock at top left that ensures your data are protected. Especially for banking transactions and login credentials that are done through app or browser will send as encrypted format.

Android Backup & Restore: The android pie version extends the encryption mechanism to android backup system. So backup or restoring your files will prompt you to provide pattern or pin or password. Also depreciates the fingerprint and face unlock authentication to restore or backup files.

File based Encryption: Android Pie further extends the File based Encryption to expandable storage which means the encryption is now applicable to external directories, user permissions, file size data and so on.

Application Sandbox: To secure the OS and user data from malicious apps, android has added SELinux based Application Sandbox security system which is linked to kernel. Each app had a unique user ID and it will be assigned to kernel-level security to block the app misbehaviour. Without user permissions no apps can access or interact with other apps.

StrongBox: To manage the cryptographic operation safe android pie brings new StrongBox security feature. This system uses hardware-backed keystore i.e. individual hardware chip has been integrated to manage the KeyStore. Now you can perform any cryptographic operations with StrongBox security inbound.