Android gets security boost

The National Security Agency (NSA) has released SE Android, a security-enhanced version of Android, which provides and enforces stricter access control policies than those found in the popular mobile operating system, Computerworld UK reports.

The project is based on SE Linux, a security-hardened version of Linux, which the NSA initially released in 2000, Information Week states.

Numerous parts of SE Linux were eventually integrated into the official Linux kernel and other Linux-based platforms.

One big focus of SE Android is application security. Application-level permissions control access to application components and system resources.

The Register says the focus of the project is on damage limitation rather than prevention.

The target audience of the project is mobile developers, security experts and device manufacturers, and not regular Android smartphone users looking for extra privacy and security.