Android

Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications. Google Inc. purchased the initial developer of the software, Android Inc., in 2005. Android's mobile operating system is based on the Linux kernel. Google and other members of the Open Handset Alliance collaborated on Android's development and release. The Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is tasked with the maintenance and further development of Android. The Android operating system is the world's best-selling Smart phone platform.

Android has a large community of developers writing applications ("apps") that extend the functionality of the devices. There are currently over 200,000 apps available for Android. Android Market is the online app store run by Google, though apps can also be downloaded from third-party sites. Developers write primarily in the Java language, controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries.

Android, the fastest growing mobile operating system, is also the most complex in terms of its testing matrix. Android developers must ensure that each new app - and each new app version - function as expected on multiple device models from LG, Motorola, HTC and others manufacturers.

And then there's functionality on mobile devices with touch screens vs. physical keyboards. UI rendering on tablets like the Samsung Galaxy and Acer Iconia. Performance on various carriers, as well as the multiple Android OS versions. 

Setting up the Test Environment :

There are several ways to test mobile applications eg:

1.Using a regular web application penetration testing chain(browser, proxy). 2.Using WinWap with a proxy

3.Using a phone emulator with a proxy.

 4.Using a phone to test and proxy outgoing phone data to a PC.

In this paper we will focus on using a phone emulator with a proxy as it is the easiest and cheapest option out there for testing mobile applications.For some platforms, this can be difficult but for Android applications, use of an emulator is easy and effective.

Requirements:

Computer running a Microsoft Windows operating system Java 5 or 6 Eclipse 3.5 Androis SDK 2.2 Fiddler