Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 8
With information security becoming a cause for concern due to the proliferation of smart phones, the Army is developing a proactive security application for installation on mobiles that will be able to monitor and control voice and data communication as well as track the location and movement of the device.
How it will work
- Handset will be configured with app and linked to a central server over Internet for providing a public key infra cover
- A GPS-based virtual boundary or a ‘geo fence’ will be identified for each device on a real-time location
At present there is no effective system of securing the use of smart phones other than rudimentary measures such as restricting their presence in sensitive military establishments or carrying out passive surveillance by monitoring agencies. Mobile phone communication not only remains highly susceptible to interception, but is also prone to installation of malwares and other snooping applications.
Under the plan, each mobile handset will be configured with the application through which voice and data exchange will be requested and linked to a central server over the Internet for providing a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) cover and initiate a secure communication.
A GPS-based virtual boundary or a ‘geo fence’ will also be identified for each device on a real-time location so that the movement of the device can be tracked and its entry or exit to and from specified zones is recorded. The project is expected to take 12-15 months for development and carrying out user trials. The Directorate General of Information Technology at Army Headquarters and the Army Software Development Centre are the agencies responsible for executing the project, which may also see the involvement of domain experts from the public or private sector.