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Department of Defense Makes Move Towards Android

30 points by privacyguru 15y ago

deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
derekerdmann 15y ago
This isn't mentioned in the article, but the Venue was only approved because Dell added additional security features to Android. I don't recall what the exact changes were, but I believe that if those features were added to the Android core (which I don't think they will), the STIG could be modified for a larger range of devices.
orbitingpluto 15y ago
I have a Dell Streak. I've had 9 of them over the past 9 months. Maybe 8, I've lost count.(And kudos to Rogers Wireless customer support for finally getting me one that's okay and also waiving my 24 month HW upgrade fee.) I've had 3 new and the remainder have been refurbished models. Problems that have occurred: 1) Batteries not included. 2) PDMI cable not included, just a microUSB. 3) Screen tinted blue. 4) Dead pixels. 5) Vibrator damaged. 6) Accelerometer sluggish changing values. 7) Case peeling off in lower left corner. 8) Poor WiFi connectivity 9) Refusal to wake-up/power-off 10) Unlock slider resets mid-swipe, unable to unlock phone without fiddling with the power button and retrying several times. and 11) the ubiquitous back panel issue. It falls off, especially if in pocket. Coupled with issue #9 you need a pair of pliers to regularly bend the tabs so the back panel will 'snick' into place and stay there. It's been pretty useless as a phone. But I use it as a testing device. If an app works well on the Streak... Also, in airplane mode (with WiFi on) battery life is really good. DoD has to buy American if they can, but these things can't be relied upon.
- jeffreyg 15y ago
  Google, George Mason University, and the NSA have been working on a secure Android kernel for a while. I doubt it will be compatible with all Android devices, but I'm sure they'll consider it reliable before rolling it out in DoD.
  - joezydeco 15y ago
    I know of one company designing a ruggedized phone for military use that happens to be based on Android (it's free, it's easy to port and get it running). I don't predict Navy SEALs will be carrying Dell Streaks on their missions.
    - josephkern 15y ago
      I dont think they will either, but their support crews might. All SOF need massive ammounts of logistical, technical, mechanical, and intelligence support. All of their ground crews and support personel would greatly benifit from a tablet, if it's a dell streak that they expect to break, so be it, just so long as spares are available. The greatest benifit that these support personel will have is a smaller foot print, and no manual pages to count. Yes that's right they actually count each and every page of every manual on an anual basis. Forgive the mispellings and grammar typing this on my phone.
  - bostonvaulter2 15y ago
    Do you have any more information about this secure Android kernel? It sounds really interesting.
bane 15y ago
Previous similar submission, http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3397786 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3397786 Like I said there, big news for http://www.palantirtech.com/government/mobile http://www.palantirtech.com/government/mobile
drcube 15y ago
Another jab at CarrierIQ. Like it's part of the "Single Android Specification" or something. Just because some unscrupulous carriers like to spy on their customers doesn't mean everybody with an Android phone is a chump. I've been on Android a year now and have used the carrier OS at most two days while I downloaded and installed CyanogenMod. If I can bypass CarrierIQ that easily, so can the US Department of Defense. That said, there are plenty of other security concerns to worry about, but I just don't think CarrierIQ is relevant.
pavelkaroukin 15y ago
That's good to hear. Maybe one step at a time government will come to idea of using open source software everywhere. Working with government organization I see how deep proprietary software is embeded into this sector. This comes with two problems: - Shrinking budgets. As result - no support and crappy websites. (and I bet desktop apps as well, we just do not see these) - Very hard time with open sourcing software developed with public funds (read - our taxes). Because most of the time software delivered in compiled form and vendor not obligated by contract to give full rights or source code on it to governmental agency paid for this work. Good news - this happens slowly not only in defense, as in this example. Few governmental agencies managers start to pushing to open sourcing work done for agency. Which for me means mental shift happens.

30 points by privacyguru 15y ago

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]

This isn't mentioned in the article, but the Venue was only approved because Dell added additional security features to Android. I don't recall what the exact changes were, but I believe that if those features were added to the Android core (which I don't think they will), the STIG could be modified for a larger range of devices.

orbitingpluto 15y ago

I have a Dell Streak. I've had 9 of them over the past 9 months. Maybe 8, I've lost count.(And kudos to Rogers Wireless customer support for finally getting me one that's okay and also waiving my 24 month HW upgrade fee.) I've had 3 new and the remainder have been refurbished models. Problems that have occurred: 1) Batteries not included. 2) PDMI cable not included, just a microUSB. 3) Screen tinted blue. 4) Dead pixels. 5) Vibrator damaged. 6) Accelerometer sluggish changing values. 7) Case peeling off in lower left corner. 8) Poor WiFi connectivity 9) Refusal to wake-up/power-off 10) Unlock slider resets mid-swipe, unable to unlock phone without fiddling with the power button and retrying several times. and 11) the ubiquitous back panel issue. It falls off, especially if in pocket. Coupled with issue #9 you need a pair of pliers to regularly bend the tabs so the back panel will 'snick' into place and stay there. It's been pretty useless as a phone. But I use it as a testing device. If an app works well on the Streak... Also, in airplane mode (with WiFi on) battery life is really good. DoD has to buy American if they can, but these things can't be relied upon.

jeffreyg 15y ago
Google, George Mason University, and the NSA have been working on a secure Android kernel for a while. I doubt it will be compatible with all Android devices, but I'm sure they'll consider it reliable before rolling it out in DoD.
- joezydeco 15y ago
  I know of one company designing a ruggedized phone for military use that happens to be based on Android (it's free, it's easy to port and get it running). I don't predict Navy SEALs will be carrying Dell Streaks on their missions.
  - josephkern 15y ago
    I dont think they will either, but their support crews might. All SOF need massive ammounts of logistical, technical, mechanical, and intelligence support. All of their ground crews and support personel would greatly benifit from a tablet, if it's a dell streak that they expect to break, so be it, just so long as spares are available. The greatest benifit that these support personel will have is a smaller foot print, and no manual pages to count. Yes that's right they actually count each and every page of every manual on an anual basis. Forgive the mispellings and grammar typing this on my phone.
- bostonvaulter2 15y ago
  Do you have any more information about this secure Android kernel? It sounds really interesting.

bane 15y ago

Previous similar submission, http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3397786 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3397786 Like I said there, big news for http://www.palantirtech.com/government/mobile http://www.palantirtech.com/government/mobile

drcube 15y ago

Another jab at CarrierIQ. Like it's part of the "Single Android Specification" or something. Just because some unscrupulous carriers like to spy on their customers doesn't mean everybody with an Android phone is a chump. I've been on Android a year now and have used the carrier OS at most two days while I downloaded and installed CyanogenMod. If I can bypass CarrierIQ that easily, so can the US Department of Defense. That said, there are plenty of other security concerns to worry about, but I just don't think CarrierIQ is relevant.

pavelkaroukin 15y ago

That's good to hear. Maybe one step at a time government will come to idea of using open source software everywhere. Working with government organization I see how deep proprietary software is embeded into this sector. This comes with two problems: - Shrinking budgets. As result - no support and crappy websites. (and I bet desktop apps as well, we just do not see these) - Very hard time with open sourcing software developed with public funds (read - our taxes). Because most of the time software delivered in compiled form and vendor not obligated by contract to give full rights or source code on it to governmental agency paid for this work. Good news - this happens slowly not only in defense, as in this example. Few governmental agencies managers start to pushing to open sourcing work done for agency. Which for me means mental shift happens.