Pitchcurve (talk | contribs) →History: this is clearly stated by the source, and Yae's reasoning based on this being published later and covering an event further in the past doesn't follow |
Pitchcurve (talk | contribs) →History: a source referencing the company blog post (just like the LWN article) does not make it problematic or invalid |
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==History== |
==History== |
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CopperheadOS began development as an open source project in 2014.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}} It was initially based on [[CyanogenMod]] and supported the [[Nexus 5]] followed by{{Failed verification|date=September 2020}} support for the Samsung Galaxy S4.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=CopperheadOS: Alternatives System will Android sicherer machen|url=https://www.heise.de/security/meldung/CopperheadOS-Alternatives-System-will-Android-sicherer-machen-2827911.html}}</ref> In August 2015, the project announced an Alpha release.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> Copperhead was incorporated in November 2015 as a Toronto-based company backing the project.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MRAS Business Registry Search|url=https://beta.canadasbusinessregistries.ca/search/results?search=%7BCoppperhead%20Limited%7D|access-date=2020-08-27|website=beta.canadasbusinessregistries.ca}}</ref> In 2015 CopperheadOS was being developed by a newly formed security company, Copperhead, based in Toronto. In November 2015, Copperhead CTO, Daniel Micay, posted a "rather controversial" tweet criticizing the security of the newly released [[BlackBerry Priv]], in comparison to Nexus devices.<ref>{{Cite web|last=November 2015|first=Lucian Armasu|date=November 13, 2015|title=Copperhead CTO: Nexus Phones Already More Secure Than BlackBerry Priv|url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/copperhead-nexus-more-secure-priv,30565.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Tom's Hardware|language=en}}</ref>{{Relevance inline|talk=Relevance of BlackBerry Priv criticism to CopperheadOS history|date=August 2020}} |
CopperheadOS began development as an open source project in 2014.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}} It was initially based on [[CyanogenMod]] and supported the [[Nexus 5]] followed by{{Failed verification|date=September 2020}} support for the Samsung Galaxy S4.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=CopperheadOS: Alternatives System will Android sicherer machen|url=https://www.heise.de/security/meldung/CopperheadOS-Alternatives-System-will-Android-sicherer-machen-2827911.html}}</ref> In August 2015, the project announced an Alpha release.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.androidworld.it/2015/09/08/copperheados-firmware-open-source-sicuro-333633/|title=La prima alpha di CopperheadOS, il firmware open-source sicuro}}</ref> Copperhead was incorporated in November 2015 as a Toronto-based company backing the project.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MRAS Business Registry Search|url=https://beta.canadasbusinessregistries.ca/search/results?search=%7BCoppperhead%20Limited%7D|access-date=2020-08-27|website=beta.canadasbusinessregistries.ca}}</ref> In 2015 CopperheadOS was being developed by a newly formed security company, Copperhead, based in Toronto. In November 2015, Copperhead CTO, Daniel Micay, posted a "rather controversial" tweet criticizing the security of the newly released [[BlackBerry Priv]], in comparison to Nexus devices.<ref>{{Cite web|last=November 2015|first=Lucian Armasu|date=November 13, 2015|title=Copperhead CTO: Nexus Phones Already More Secure Than BlackBerry Priv|url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/copperhead-nexus-more-secure-priv,30565.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Tom's Hardware|language=en}}</ref>{{Relevance inline|talk=Relevance of BlackBerry Priv criticism to CopperheadOS history|date=August 2020}} |
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In February 2016, CopperheadOS Beta was released with initial support for the Nexus 5, Nexus 9 and Nexus 5X.<ref name=":1" /> From this point forwards, it was based directly on the [[Android Open Source Project]] instead of using [[CyanogenMod]].<ref name=":1" /> The move away from CyanogenMod and the lack of vendor support led to dropping support for the Samsung Galaxy S4.<ref name=":1" /> |
In February 2016, CopperheadOS Beta was released with initial support for the Nexus 5, Nexus 9 and Nexus 5X.<ref name=":1" /> From this point forwards, it was based directly on the [[Android Open Source Project]] instead of using [[CyanogenMod]].<ref name=":1" /> The move away from CyanogenMod and the lack of vendor support led to dropping support for the Samsung Galaxy S4.<ref name=":1" /> |
Revision as of 11:37, 3 September 2020
![]() | |
![]() Screenshot of CopperheadOS on a Nexus 5X | |
OS family | Unix-like |
---|---|
Working state | Current |
Source model | Closed source (source-available under proprietary licensing for approved partners) |
Latest release | 2020.08.07 / 7 August 2020 |
Repository | github |
Marketing target | Security / privacy-focused smartphones |
Update method | Over-the-air (OTA) or sideloaded update packages |
Package manager | APK with F-Droid bundled as a frontend |
License | CC NC 4.0, GPL2 (kernel), GPL3 (F-Droid) |
Official website | copperhead |
CopperheadOS is a proprietary mobile operating system for smartphones, based on the Android mobile platform. It adds privacy and security features to the official releases of the Android Open Source Project by Google.[1][2]
History
CopperheadOS began development as an open source project in 2014.[citation needed] It was initially based on CyanogenMod and supported the Nexus 5 followed by[failed verification] support for the Samsung Galaxy S4.[3] In August 2015, the project announced an Alpha release.[3][2][4] Copperhead was incorporated in November 2015 as a Toronto-based company backing the project.[5] In 2015 CopperheadOS was being developed by a newly formed security company, Copperhead, based in Toronto. In November 2015, Copperhead CTO, Daniel Micay, posted a "rather controversial" tweet criticizing the security of the newly released BlackBerry Priv, in comparison to Nexus devices.[6][relevant?]
In February 2016, CopperheadOS Beta was released with initial support for the Nexus 5, Nexus 9 and Nexus 5X.[2] From this point forwards, it was based directly on the Android Open Source Project instead of using CyanogenMod.[2] The move away from CyanogenMod and the lack of vendor support led to dropping support for the Samsung Galaxy S4.[2]
In July 2016, the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X could be purchased from the Copperhead website. The Nexus 6P was sold for $750 with CopperheadOS installed, as compared with $500 from Google.[7]
In March 2017, official releases for Nexus devices were available for free on the website and Google Pixel phones could be purchased with the OS pre-installed. The 32GB version was $1,049 or with 128GB it was $1,149.[8] Downloads of official releases for Pixel devices were not made available and users now had to either purchase a device from Copperhead or purchase the OS with their device sent in for flashing.[9]
In November 2017 CopperheadOS OTA updates were briefly shut down because competitors were flashing CopperheadOS on devices and selling them commercially, in violation of license terms.[9][10]
As of January 2018, Pixel and Pixel XL devices were available from Copperhead with CopperheadOS pre-installed.[11] Pixel 2 and 2 XL alpha versions were announced.[12] Official releases for the Pixel 2 and 2 XL were available only for "internal use", maintaining the status quo of only Nexus 5X and 6P releases being available for public download.[12]
In June 2018, Copperhead and then Chief-Technology Officer Daniel Micay parted ways[13] after a dispute on the direction of the company and CopperheadOS. Daniel Micay continued the open source project as the Android Hardening project and later rebranded it to GrapheneOS.[14]
In March 2019, Android Pie based versions were available for 4 supported devices: Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, which could be purchased from Copperhead's website.[15]
Copperhead continued development of CopperheadOS as a proprietary product with the sources under a non-commercial usage license.[16] As of August 2020, CopperheadOS sources and install files are not available for public download and can only be obtained from a "partner network"[17] under a combination of licenses.[18]
Compatibility
CopperheadOS currently supports the following smartphone models in the Google Pixel product line:[12][17]
Reception
In August 2016, J.M. Porup of ArsTechnica.com wrote a detailed review of CopperheadOS.[19][further explanation needed]
In January 2018, Tarus Balog of opensource.com was favorably impressed by features in CopperheadOS, but he found the lack of Google applications difficult, and was confused by licensing terms and conditions. Balog said he initially used a Nexus 6P because available Pixel and Pixel XL phones from Copperhead were too expensive. At that time source code was available, but he was unable to successfully complete his own build.[11]
Controversies and other projects
In 2016 a Tor Phone prototype was developed based on CopperheadOS.[20][21]
In 2018 and 2019 CopperheadOS was identified as an Android Operating System being used for phones for criminal activities.[22][23][24]
In a two-article series, Kingshuk De of piunikaweb.com wrote about the infighting over "business policy" between CEO James Donaldson and "lead developer" Daniel Micay, saying, "James ultimately fired Daniel." Detailing some of the public exchanges on social media, De wrote, "Mocking the shortcomings of the claims by Copperhead Limited is a favorite game" for Micay. De stated Micay made a "serious accusation" against his former company, and according to Donaldson, he and Micay are in a legal battle. De said RattlesnakeOS and #! / hashbangOS were other open-source forks of the Android Open Source Project offering an alternative to CopperheadOS and taking inspiration from it.[25][26]
See also
References
- ^ Porup, J.M. (August 9, 2016). "Copperhead OS: The startup that wants to solve Android's woeful security". arstechnica.co.uk. Ars Technica UK.
- ^ a b c d e Corbet, Jonathan (February 17, 2016). "CopperheadOS: Securing the Android". lwn.net.
- ^ a b "CopperheadOS: Alternatives System will Android sicherer machen".
- ^ "La prima alpha di CopperheadOS, il firmware open-source sicuro".
- ^ "MRAS Business Registry Search". beta.canadasbusinessregistries.ca. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
- ^ November 2015, Lucian Armasu (November 13, 2015). "Copperhead CTO: Nexus Phones Already More Secure Than BlackBerry Priv". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Chokkattu, Julian (July 12, 2016). "Copperhead is selling Google's Nexus devices with its pre-installed secure OS". www.digitaltrends.com. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Google Pixel with CopperheadOS is Available for Purchase in the U.S. and Canada". xda-developers. 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
- ^ a b "CopperheadOS Disables Nexus Update Server After Licensing Violations". xda-developers. 2017-11-12. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ Pakalski, Ingo (13 November 2017). "Copperhead OS: Updates waren vorübergehend komplett abgeschaltet - Golem.de". www.golem.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-28.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Balog, Tarus (29 Jan 2018). "CopperheadOS: Security features, installing apps, and more". Opensource.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c "CopperheadOS is Coming to the Google Pixel 2/2 XL". xda-developers. 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
- ^ "GrapheneOS is a security and privacy focused mobile operating system". YugaTech | Philippines Tech News & Reviews. 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
- ^ "GrapheneOS: Ein gehärtetes Android ohne Google, bitte - Golem.de". www.golem.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-11.
- ^ "CopperheadOS' Android Pie update is now available for the Pixel & Pixel 2". xda-developers. 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ "Updates - Copperhead". web.archive.org. 2020-07-24. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
- ^ a b "Installation - Copperhead". web.archive.org. 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ "Licensing - Copperhead". web.archive.org. 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ Porup, J.M. (2016-08-10). "Copperhead OS: The startup that wants to solve Android's woeful security". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Staff, Ars (2016-11-22). "Tor phone is antidote to Google "hostility" over Android, says developer". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
- ^ Verma, Adarsh (2016-11-25). "Tor Phone Is The "Super-secure Version Of Android", Developed By Tor Project". Fossbytes. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
- ^ "CEO Pleads Guilty to Selling Encrypted Phones to Organized Crime". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
- ^ "Secure Phone Companies Clamp Down After Sinaloa Cartel-Linked Arrest". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
- ^ "Inside the Phone Company Secretly Run By Drug Traffickers". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
- ^ "The demise of CopperheadOS and rise of its successors". PiunikaWeb. 2019-02-05. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
- ^ "Ex-CopperheadOS dev spits fire as CEO says project not dead". PiunikaWeb. 2019-02-06. Retrieved 2020-08-26.