Is BharOS really capable to fight with Android/Apple OS?

As we all know, India is growing very fast in the IT Sector and giving hard competition to other nations. Now India is developing its own mobile OS “BharOs” which is an Indigenous Mobile Operating System that is similar to Google Android and Apple IOS.
BharOS is developed by JandKops, and has been incubated by IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation. The main focus of BharOS is Privacy and Security.

What is an Operating System?

An operating system is essentially the primary interface through which a user interacts with a smartphone to use its features. For example, Android has a lot of malware, which enables developers to add applications for the purpose of interacting with users by obtaining information about them, such as location, contacts, camera access, etc. However, Apple IOS places a premium on customer data protection, privacy, and security. In other words, Android is less safe than IOS, making it easier for hackers to target Android users and steal their personal information. However, Apple IOS is significantly more secure than Android.

In light of this, IIT Madras choose to create its own operating system using the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP). Therefore, there are many issues about BharOS, such as how it may be different from Android and safe if it was developed using the AOSP (Android Open-Source Project).

Aspects of BharOS:

Updates over the air: This refers to the automatic installation of security and bug fixes updates without the user having to manually check for updates or carry them out.

There are some built-in programmes from third parties that slow down the device and take up storage, as you can see in other smartphones. Users of BharOS are not required to keep or utilise pre-installed software.

Private App Store: While iOS users download apps from the App Store and Android users from the Play Store, BharOS has its own App Store that only accepts programmes that have been examined and selected as user-safe.

Objective: To develop BharOS

The purpose of developing BharOS is to promote domestically produced technologies while reducing reliance on foreign operating systems in cell phones. BharOS’s entire development is governed by the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.

BharOS is a significant advance in the development of an Indian operating system for a time when Indians will not be dependent on Western technology.

India influences other nations that are likewise able to promote their own indigenous technologies by creating our own operating system.

How BharOS and Android would be different?

There are many doubts about BharOS, such as how it can be different from Android and how it will be safer to use if it was developed using the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).
IIT Madras’ response to these queries was that “BharOS will function like a security blanket for a smartphone.” The BharOS Framework is made to stop the execution of harmful apps and to check each app before it is made live on the BharOS Platform.

• In contrast to standard Android devices, BharOS does not come preloaded with Google services. Therefore, BharOS users can only download applications that are competent and adhere to the BharOS App Requirements.
• Chrome is the default browser on every other Android phone. Therefore, DuckDuckGo Browser was chosen as the default browser by BharOS Developers.
• The primary goal is to collaborate with the privacy-focused DuckDuckGo browser, which has various privacy-focused features like anonymous browsing mode and Privacy Guard.

The BharOS operating system now lets users manage their sensitive data that requires confidential interactions on restricted applications. It is offered to organisations with high privacy and security requirements. This means that these consumers must need access to private cloud services through their preferred networks.