Free Movie Application Installation on Corporate Smartphones: Security Implications

The Risks of Installing Third-Party Apps on Corporate Devices

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Question

Joe, an employee, wants to show his colleagues how much he knows about smartphones.

Joe demonstrates a free movie application that he installed from a third party on his corporate smartphone.

Joe's colleagues were unable to find the application in the app stores.

Which of the following allowed Joe to install the application? (Choose two.)

Answers

Explanations

Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer

A. B. C. D. E.

BE.

The correct answers are B. Rooting/jailbreaking and E. Sideloading.

Explanation:

In this scenario, Joe was able to install a free movie application on his corporate smartphone from a third party, which his colleagues were unable to find in the app stores. This suggests that Joe bypassed the usual app store distribution mechanism and installed the application through alternative means. The following are the possible options for Joe to install the application:

A. Near-field communication: Near-field communication (NFC) is a technology that allows two devices to communicate wirelessly when they are in close proximity to each other. However, NFC is not used to install third-party applications on a smartphone, so it is not the correct answer.

B. Rooting/jailbreaking: Rooting (Android) or jailbreaking (iOS) refers to the process of removing restrictions imposed by the operating system on a smartphone. When a smartphone is rooted or jailbroken, the user gains access to the device's system files and can install third-party applications from sources other than the official app stores. Therefore, rooting/jailbreaking is a possible option that allowed Joe to install the application.

C. Ad-hoc connections: Ad-hoc connections refer to a type of wireless network where devices communicate directly with each other without using a central access point. Ad-hoc connections are not used to install third-party applications on a smartphone, so it is not the correct answer.

D. Tethering: Tethering refers to the process of sharing a smartphone's internet connection with another device. Tethering is not used to install third-party applications on a smartphone, so it is not the correct answer.

E. Sideloading: Sideloading refers to the process of installing an application on a smartphone from a source other than the official app stores. To sideload an application, the user must first enable the option to install apps from unknown sources in the smartphone's settings. Therefore, sideloading is another possible option that allowed Joe to install the application.

In conclusion, the correct answers are B. Rooting/jailbreaking and E. Sideloading, as they are the only options that allow a user to install third-party applications on a smartphone from sources other than the official app stores.