Privileged Access: Investigating Log Data Exposure on Android Devices

Allan is a PhD candidate at the University of Calgary specializing in smartphone privacy and security. His research explores Android’s internal logging system—modeled after Linux—and how it is intended to protect sensitive system and app-generated information via permission controls.

However, Allan’s findings show that privileged preinstalled apps can often bypass these restrictions, accessing all log data on the device regardless of user consent. Though such elevated access is meant only for apps from Google or the device manufacturer, in practice, numerous other preinstalled apps may hold this capability. Compounding the issue, many apps log sensitive data in violation of Google’s policies, significantly raising the risk of user data exposure.

This session will be of particular interest to those involved in mobile security, OS architecture, embedded systems, and digital privacy.

Don’t miss this chance to engage with cutting-edge research and discuss the implications for secure system design.

We hope to see you there