Google Inc (GOOG): Android’s Security to Improve with Samsung’s KNOX

On the other hand, Android applications can be acquired from both the Google Play store as well as a number of third-party stores. This distribution model lends itself well to repackaged applications that contain malware.

Apple’s vaunted application-screening process could maintain its current success until the top-notch hackers feel it is profitable to create malware sophisticated enough to hide from their application-screening process.

Mobile Security: Android vs. BlackBerry

BlackBerry’s “Balance” feature, which separates work application data from personal application data, helps it providing top-notch security to corporate customers. BlackBerry’s ability to implement separate VPNs to individual applications rather than relying on one VPN for the entire device is another advantage, so far as security is concerned.

What makes Samsung’s push into the enterprise truly remarkable is that it’s something that neither Apple nor rival Android vendors have ever really tried to accomplish. With KNOX, Samsung is trying to explicitly move into the territory held by BlackBerry and is trying to get companies to see its Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II devices as real business tools.

What KNOX can do?

KNOX is expected to provide the following features:

• Secure access to business information while preventing the information from being copied into, sent from or used by personal applications like Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live, Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo! Mail accounts.
• Business data or files created by business applications cannot be used by personal applications.
• If a user attempts an action that is prohibited by IT policy, a notification is displayed on the device.
• If an employee leaves the organization, an administrator can remotely wipe business information from the device while leaving personal information intact.
• If a device is lost or stolen, an administrator can wipe all information from the device to help ensure that sensitive business information and the user’s personal information don’t fall into the wrong hands.

Conclusion

The popularity of the Galaxy S III makes Samsung’s job easier since many Galaxy owners are already bringing their devices to work and companies are more than happy to have Samsung coming in with its own security services they can use instead of scrambling around trying to find third-party mobile enterprise apps.

The article Android’s Security to Improve with Samsung’s KNOX originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Anindya Batabyal.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.