Systems and methods for monitoring an operating system of a mobile wireless communication device for unauthorized modifications

1. A method for secure monitoring an operating system of a mobile wireless communication device for unauthorized modifications, the mobile wireless communication device including an electronic processor and a universal integrated circuit card, the method comprising:

providing a secure application in the universal integrated circuit card, the secure application configured to disable or block wireless connectivity of the mobile wireless communication device, and communicate with a wireless communications network;

providing a monitoring application in a trusted sub-processor of the electronic processor;

establishing a secure communication link between the secure application and the monitoring application;

generating a heartbeat token based on a modification status and at least one system variable selected from the group consisting of a temporary mobile subscriber identity, a location area identity, and an international mobile subscriber identity; and

receiving, with the secure application, the heartbeat token.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the heartbeat token includes generating the heartbeat token further based on a message authentication code.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, with the secure application, that an unauthorized software modification exists based on the heartbeat token; and

activating, with the secure application, at least one countermeasure.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining that the unauthorized software modification exists includes verifying a message authentication code.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein activating the at least one countermeasure includes selecting the at least one countermeasure from the group consisting of sending a message to the wireless communications network, and disabling user-accessible wireless services on the mobile wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, with the secure application, that an unauthorized software modification exists when the heartbeat token is not received; and

activating, with the secure application, at least one countermeasure.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein activating the at least one countermeasure includes selecting the at least one countermeasure from the group consisting of sending a message to the wireless communications network, and disabling user-accessible wireless services on the mobile wireless communication device.

8. A system for secure monitoring of an operating system of a mobile wireless communication device for unauthorized modifications, the system comprising:

a universal integrated circuit card configured to

disable or block wireless connectivity of the mobile wireless communication device, and communicate with a wireless communications network; and

receive a heartbeat token; and

an electronic processor having a trusted sub-processor, the trusted sub-processor configured to

establish a secure communication link between the trusted sub-processor and the universal integrated circuit card; and

generate the heartbeat token based on a modification status and at least one system variable selected from the group consisting of a temporary mobile subscriber identity, a location area identity, and an international mobile subscriber identity.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the trusted sub-processor is further configured to generate a message authentication code; and wherein generating the heartbeat token includes generating the heartbeat token further based on the message authentication code.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the universal integrated circuit card is further configured to determine that an unauthorized software modification exists based on the heartbeat token; and

activate at least one countermeasure.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining that the unauthorized software modification exists includes verifying a message authentication code.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one countermeasure includes at least one selected from the group consisting of sending a message to the wireless communications network, and disabling user-accessible wireless services on the mobile wireless communication device.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the universal integrated circuit card is further configured to determine that an unauthorized software modification exists when the heartbeat token is not received; and

activate at least one countermeasure.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one countermeasure includes at least one selected from the group consisting of sending a message to the wireless communications network, and disabling user-accessible wireless services on the mobile wireless communication device.

15. A system for secure monitoring of an operating system of a mobile wireless communication device for unauthorized modifications, the system comprising:

a universal integrated circuit card that disables or blocks wireless connectivity of the mobile wireless communication device, communicates with a wireless communications network, and receive a heartbeat token; and

an electronic processor having a trusted sub-processor, that establishes a secure communication link between the trusted sub-processor and the universal integrated circuit card, and generates the heartbeat token based on a modification status and at least one system variable selected from the group consisting of a temporary mobile subscriber identity, a location area identity, and an international mobile subscriber identity.