What is an Android Intent, and what security characteristic makes it fundamentally different from a direct Java method call?

• A.A. An Intent is a messaging object used to request an action from another component; unlike a direct method call, an Intent passes through the Android system (Binder/system_server), enabling the OS to enforce permissions and routing policies - but also making the Intent's payload accessible to the receiving component regardless of the sender's identity unless access control is applied
• B.B. Intents use TLS encryption for all data payloads, making them more secure than direct method calls
• C.C. Direct method calls go through Binder IPC while Intents bypass Binder, making Intents more efficient but less secure
• D.D. Intents are sandboxed between UID boundaries and cannot carry data between apps; only system Intents can cross app boundaries