ZISC researchers from the groups led by Professor Srdjan Capkun and ETH Assistant Professor Shweta Shinde have developed a new software architecture that can divide a smartphone up into several isolated domains that are completely independent of one another.
Now, the two post-doctoral researchers Ivan Puddu and Moritz Schneider have founded the spin-off Soverli, which is bringing smartphones of this kind to the market. The special thing about these phones is users can switch between different areas on their devices that are completely isolated from one another at the touch of a button. These “domains” can host apps or separate operating systems that run independently of the actual OS and with separate access to memory or sensors.
This gives rise to sovereign areas on the phone that the operating system cannot read, offering users full control over their data. Puddu says: “The hard part was isolating these domains completely and allowing users to switch between them without sacrificing userfriendliness.”
Soverli has found a solution to this and recently patented it. There are numerous potential applications for the smartphones from Soverli. One obvious example is to create a domain for a secure messaging app. However, the protection of personal data is just one of Puddu and Schneider’s aims. The new architecture is also an exciting development when it comes to communication in crisis situations. Emergency service organisations could use secure domains in conjunction with a separate emergency mobile network for communication. Systems of this kind are more secure if they are independent of foreign device manufacturers and standard operating systems. Authorities are therefore high on the list of potential customers for Soverli, in addition to business customers with special requirements.
