Selected Topics in Mobile Security

(Summer Term 2025)

Overview

In this seminar, we will discuss current results and new problems in the mobile security domain based on relevant scientific papers. Given Android's high popularity among researchers, the selected papers focus on Android. The topics include usability aspects of Android's permission system and security-relevant APIs, security extensions at different levels of Android's software stack, app analysis, and newly identified attack vectors.

Logistics

Course structure and grading

The course is structured as a standard seminar. Every week (starting May 14), one student will present an assigned topic area, which we will discuss. Before this, all students are expected to read the handed-out papers carefully and prepare a list of discussion questions. Additionally, every student will write a short report on their assigned papers, in which the presentation should be elaborated in more detail and potentially include the discussion results. Grading will be based on the presentations (30%), report (50%), and general in-class participation in the discussion (20%). Please note that we expect active participation in the discussions!

Registration and pre-requisites

There are no formal prerequisites beyond a basic knowledge of how computer systems work internally. However, it is beneficial to work with smartphones as a user or app developer or participate in the Advanced Lecture Mobile Security.

Registration is handled via the central registration system of the UdS.

Presentation schedule and topics