Android Device Vulnerability Exploitation and Protection

Abstract

Cybercrimes have increased against Android devices due totheincreased usage of Instant Messaging, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Webcam Applications that are built into the Android device, resulting in invasion of the victim’s privacy. The existing studies demonstrate how to utilize the vulnerabilities of the Android device; however, none have proposed a comprehensive study highlighting the hacking tricks and their countermeasures. This study demonstrates how to discover and fully control the Android device using existing tools. Furthermore, it proposes a novel GPS Tracking Application. The purpose of this research is twofold: 1. To demonstrate how to disclose the victim’s sensitive information after performing diversehackingtricks;and2. To implement countermeasures for each Android hacking tricks. The author believe that such a scenario is needed for implementing awareness among Android device users. Also, it shows Android and Instant Messaging Application developers to mitigate existing vulnerabilities, thereby enhancing security levels.