Mobile Security (SS 2021)

Content

This course is a seminar-style class which focuses on security aspects of mobile devices. We study the security mechanisms of smartphones and show how to employ them to protect sensitive information. Based on that, we analyze mobile applications regarding security-critical deficiencies, examine platform and application vulnerabilities and discuss how they can be exploited by attackers.

• Security features of mobile platforms, e.g. Android, iOS, ...
  • Access protection (PIN, Patterns, ...), Secure Element, OS updates, permissions, sandboxing, ...
  • Which mechanisms are provided in order to protect sensitive data?
  • How do they work?
• Key and data storage on mobile devices
  • Device encryption, key derivation functions, key management, risks
  • Which kind of keys do you manage on your device?
  • In practice, what are the risks you have to cope with?
• Using mobile devices for identity management
  • Mobile e-signatures, threats
• Application analysis
  • Tools and approaches, vulnerabilities and exploits, handling sensitive data, security-critical mistakes
• Attacking today's smartphones
  • Side-channels, Man-in-the-middle, jailbreaking, consequences
• Mobile Phone Networks
  • IMSI Catchers, attacking phones, vulnerabilities in communication networks

Material

Lecture Slides

The lecture for Mobile Security enables you to acquire knowledge about trending topics in the field of Android and iOS. Attendance is not mandatory but you are encouraged to participate continuously in order to get the "big picture".

Date	Topic	Video
11.03.2021	Introduction & Motivation	Video
18.03.2021	Key & Data Storage on Mobile Devices, Assignment 1	Video
25.03.2021	iOS Platform Security Also see: iOS Security Guide	Video
15.04.2021	iOS Application Security Also see: iOS of Sauron - How iOS Tracks Everything You Do, Malicious MDM	Video
22.04.2021	Android Platform Security Also see: Kr00k, KRACK, BleedingTooth, The Android Platform Security Model	Video
29.04.2021	Android Application Security Also see: Lippizan (1, 2), WhatsApp Backups	Video
06.05.2021	Static & Dynamic Application Analysis	Video
20.05.2021	Mobile Network Security Also see: LTE Ciphercheck, Reporters are looking for IMSI catchers in the UK	Video
10.06.2021	Presentation of your task 2 results	Video

Practicals and Misc

Everything related to the practicals and further material can be found on the assignments page.

Communication

For better coordination during the course, you are invited to join the # mobilesec Discord channel. To ensure that you won't miss any essential information, there will also be old-school updates via email.

Administrative Information

Important Dates

Lecture Exams

Basically, each student who wants to obtain a grade for the lecture has to pass an exam. You may select and register for an exam date via TUGRAZonline.