Google will be releasing Android 5.0 Lollipop, the latest version of the Android smartphone OS, in a few days. No doubt Android fans are already excited about the prospect of finding out for themselves what new features the newest Android system have in store for them. To further stoke the fans' excitement in the days leading to the release date, Google is highlighting the new security features of Android 5.0 Lollipop via a post in the Official Android blog.
One of the features highlighted in the blog entry is Smart Lock. Using a screen lock is one of the easiest and simplest ways users can keep the data on their smartphones safe and secure. The most common security issue affecting users is how to keep their devices protected when they get lost or worse, i.e. stolen. Using a PIN or password is a tried and tested security method, but in a fast-paced age like today, most people would find entering a PIN or password a bit too cumbersome.
With Android 5.0 Lollipop's new Smart Lock feature, users can just tell your device to unlock using Bluetooth pairing, near field communications technology (NFC), or simply by showing your facial features.
Another thing that makes Smart Lock cool is that it allows specific notifications to be displayed and accessible from the lock screen. This way, users can have access to important alerts without compromising the safety of their devices.
The newest Android OS version also has enhanced encryption capabilities. From the moment you first boot your Lollipop-updated handset, full device encryption is already activated.
For added security, a unique key is used in activating encryption, and that key never leaves your device. This means that even if you play around with your smartphone's or tablet's settings, the encryption stays in effect, making sure your data remains safe from snoops and thieves.
And then there is SELinux. Shorthand for Security Enhanced Linux, this feature allows for better enforcement of the Android security protocol deep into the core of your device's mobile operating system. With Lollipop, SELinux Enforcing mode is now made mandatory for all Android devices.
SELinux was first introduced by the Android team last year, and it has proven effective in addressing and preventing security vulnerabilities in mobile devices. The effectiveness of SELinux has helped made the Android OS the top choice for customers with tougher security standards, like the government for instance.
According to Adrian Ludwig, the Lead Security Engineer of Android who posted the blog entry, Lollipop has a number of other security features that should further help Android users protect their devices and their mobile data. After November 3rd, Android fanatics should be able to experience for themselves what those other features are.
