Discrete hardware apparatus and method for mobile application and communication security

Abstract

With the dramatic shift of internet use away from desktop and laptop PCs toward smartphones and tablets, protection thresholds for application, device and communication security have significantly lowered. Most attempts on reversing this situation by means of converting standard mobile devices into tamper-proof equipment have proven to leave ample space for vulnerability of mobile processes and communication content. The only high efficacy method of sheltering against spying and fraud is seen in a new approach where a dedicated piece of discrete hardware is tasked with all security related operations while the standard cell phone or tablet remains unchanged, providing only its connectivity capabilities. The increasing cost caused by e.g. fraud in the area of mobile banking provides the background to economically justify this effort, which can in parallel support many other areas of mobile security. © 2014 Springer International Publishing.