Will This Be The Year Of Significantly Improved Mobile Security And Convenience?
January 31, 2011
The risk of a breach to personal security and privacy increases as ever more capable smartphones are adopted, 'cloud' services are used for a wider range of data storage, more frequent use of social networks providing a searchable log of activity, and nearly everything being accessible through the Internet.
Apple and other companies have been aware of this for years. Many have had numerous speculation based on dozens of patent filings of how Jobs and company are looking to combat this problem. A recent opinion piece by Mike Elgan from Computerworld seems to think that a big switch in how users protect their data is nearly upon us.
We've seen patents including fingerprint scanners and pattern authentication, facial recognition, and even combination patents including the prior and things like heartbeat authentication. Face detection seems quite possible with Apple's purchase of Polar Rose to bring Faces to iPhoto and the push to bring front-facing cameras to all Apple devices for FaceTime use.
However, the security isn't rumored to stop at just our iDevices. Apple's hiring of a near field communications expert and patents demonstrating its use as a companion to a personal computer last year really made for a stir in what Apple may be planning with an entire mobile security package.
NFC is primarily being tested for use in mobile payments, ticketing, public terminal identification, and electronic keycards. Basically, you'd swipe your iPhone near terminals instead of scanning the barcode of a ticket, credit card, ID card, and keycard. Although, Apple is apparently looking into using this short range communication technology to act like a mobile encrypted keychain for a personal computer.
Think of setting your iPhone near a PC and having all of your passwords, usernames, contacts, preferences, favorites, etc instantly accessible. Of course, if this is meant for security, no personal data would ever actually be stored on the PC, just used directly from your iDevice. That way, when you pick up your iDevice and move it more than a few inches away, your personal information is no longer available.
Do I agree with Mike's assessment that "Apple and Google will kill the password?" Perhaps, it could eventually. Apple and Google's adoption of NFC, where the latest version of Android already includes support, is a nice step, but I don't think it solves all of the flaws. The majority of identity theft and privacy breaches are caused by carelessness, mistrust, and ignorance. All of those attributes can be a problem for even the most elaborate security measures.
That's not to say I don't welcome these as optional features, but I can already hear the grumbles of some complaining that they still had critical information stolen or how Apple is trying to prevent users from easily accessing their devices. Do you feel this seems like the end of having to remember dozens of usernames and passwords? Does it seem more secure? Will you stop carrying around credit cards and other ID cards? There are plenty of questions yet to be answered.
