Mobile Device & Zero-day Vulnerabilities

Question 1

Mobile Device Security

Answer 1

Mobile device security → protections applied to smartphones and tablets to safeguard data and systems, including screen locks, encryption, application control, mobile device management, and regular operating system updates.

Question 2

Jailbreaking a Phone

Answer 2

Jailbreaking a phone → process on Apple iOS devices that removes manufacturer restrictions to install custom firmware or unauthorized apps, increasing flexibility but significantly reducing built-in security controls.

Question 3

Rooting a Phone

Answer 3

Rooting a phone → process on Android devices that grants full administrative access to install custom firmware or modify system files, which increases risk by bypassing security protections.

Question 4

Sideloading

Answer 4

Sideloading → installing applications from sources outside the official app store, increasing exposure to malicious or unverified software.

Question 5

Vulnerabilities

Answer 5

Vulnerabilities → weaknesses in software, hardware, or configurations that attackers can exploit to compromise confidentiality, integrity, or availability.

Question 6

Zero-day Attacks

Answer 6

Zero-day attacks → attacks that exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities before a patch or fix is available, making them particularly dangerous and difficult to defend against.

Question 7

CVE

Answer 7

Common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVE) → publicly maintained system for identifying and cataloging known security vulnerabilities using standardized identifiers.