[LINK] Something Else That the CIA Leaks Disclose

[Jim Birch]

Roger Clarke wrote:


> 1.  From the very beginning of the 'appliance' market, users have been
> precluded from having mobile general-purpose computing devices - because
> the capabilities are tightly limited by the provider to suit the needs of
> the provider not the customer.
>

That's true but it also allows the vendor to create a more secure device.
Phone OSs are more or less predicated on the idea that the user is ICT
incompetent.  This is very often true.  I'd estimate that half the users of
these systems would give root access to their machines to any app that
asked, if they knew the password and the systems' designs allowed it.  OSs
would be rapidly compromised not just by by malicious software but also
friendly fire (as per old Windows OSs).

>
> 2.  Software providers for mobile devices are precluded from accessing the
> full capabilities of the underlying OS - because that would undermine the
> OS-provider's ability to control the market.
>

The designs of Android and iOS are predicated on blocking base level access
to the machine.  User apps are carefully sandboxed.  This hasn't worked
perfectly by any means (especially in Android's failed update model) but it
is a lot better than nothing. Would you want a (maliciously) rooted BYOD in
your organisation's network?


> When *are* we going to see an open-source mobile-device OS?
>

These exist, eg, Ubuntu Touch, Firefox mobile (now defunct, I think.)  They
don't have the massive network effect that iOS and Android have.  Ubuntu
Touch can be retrofitted onto existing phones, if you want to.  Personally,
I'd be interested in following this and maybe moving to it but I seriously
doubt that this is a good idea for most consumers.  What benefit would they
get?

Or will desktop/laptop OS follow mobile OS, with the effect of denying
> normal people access to general-purpose computing devices?
>

Most people don't want general purpose computing.  They want a browser and
a few highly-purposed apps.  Witness the way people have moved en masse to
locked down tablet OSs with zero complaints.  That says something, doesn't
it?

Jim