Comments on: UAE spying on citizens through an Etisalat BlackBerry update?

By: BlackBerry: Update con spyware? | Il taccuino di Armando Leotta

BlackBerry: Update con spyware? | Il taccuino di Armando Leotta — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:48:13 +0000

[...] che proprio questo aspetto abbia insospettito alcuni utenti e sviluppatori che ad un controllo più approfondito si sono ritrovati di fronte a questa [...]

By: BlackBerry update bursting with spyware « The Aloricans

BlackBerry update bursting with spyware « The Aloricans — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:52:12 +0000

[...] the update installs a Java file that one curious customer decided to take a closer look at, only to discover an application intended to intercept both email and text messages, sending a copy to an Etisalat [...]

By: Blackberry Update Contained Spyware | Exaprotect BlogManager

Blackberry Update Contained Spyware | Exaprotect BlogManager — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:41:36 +0000

[...] cases, handsets stopped working altogether. One customer examined the problem in more detail and discovered an application intended to intercept both e-mail and text messages, sending a copy to an Etisalat [...]

By: Actualización de Blackberry portadora de spyware | Shadow Security

Actualización de Blackberry portadora de spyware | Shadow Security — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:03:24 +0000

[...] por introducir a través del operador Etisalat, una actualización para usuarios de Blackberry que contiene spyware.Por lo visto, y gracias a esta nueva actualización, se interceptaban los mensajes de correo y SMS, [...]

By: Etisalat UAE spying through an Etisalat BlackBerry update - WCCFtech.com | Forum

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:02:39 +0000

[...] about it here. Etissalat Software Remover download from blackberry download Sources 1 2 3 4 __________________ Chairman,Al-Faida Group: LAUGH AA, BB is no [...]

By: Ahmed khalil

Ahmed khalil — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:15:35 +0000

From blackberry site
Recently an update may have been provided to you by Etisalat for your BlackBerry Handheld via a WAP push. The Etisalat update is not a RIM-authorized update and was not developed by RIM. Independent sources have concluded that the Etisalat update is not designed to improve performance of your BlackBerry Handheld, but rather to send received messages back to a central server. RIM has developed this software (“Software”) that will enable you to remove the Etisalat update.

You can find the update on the following link
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/ataglance/security/regappremover.jsp

By: Actualización de Blackberry portadora de spyware «

Actualización de Blackberry portadora de spyware « — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:44:53 +0000

[...] el correcto servicio y en realidad contenía un fichero .JAR (en Java) que un usuario de un foro de Blackberry analizó con mayor detenimiento. “Interceptor” se llamaba la aplicación que el [...]

By: Ch0pstick

Ch0pstick — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:48:44 +0000

I’ve released a free tool that helps you reveal the Etisalat BB spyware. Once its revealed, you can uninstall it yourself. If you need more info, please visit: http://bit.ly/info/YNFsP

By: BlackBerry update bursting with spyware « Geek Speaks

BlackBerry update bursting with spyware « Geek Speaks — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:45:53 +0000

By: ae

ae — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:17:46 +0000

AWS:by attemting your remedy I get a pop-up every few second informing me ‘the application Registration has attemped to open an external connection which is not allowed by the current settings’

This whole thing is driving me mad. Please someone offer solution!!

By: SMobile Systems release solution for Etisalat BlackBerry spyware at SmartPhoneCool.com

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:01:43 +0000

[...] I was recently contacted by the good people at SMobile Systems, the providers of the only Antivirus/AntiSpyware solution for BlackBerry, about my article regarding malicious code found in a recent Etisalat update. [...]

By: SMobile Systems release solution for Etisalat BlackBerry spyware | BlackBerry Cool

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:53:20 +0000

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:38:10 +0000

Here’s an analysis of the Etisalat spyware that I wrote up yesterday:

http://www.veracode.com/blog/2009/07/blackberry-spyware-dissected/

By: Tim Thompson

Tim Thompson — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:01:33 +0000

Does anyone know if this will affect only Etisalat hosted BB customers or any BB that ‘roams’ whilst in the UAE.
We have an office in Dubai where the users have UK based Vodafone BB’s which connect to our BES in the UK.

Cheers
Tim

By: steely

steely — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:35:39 +0000

snip-snap from “Transmit.class”,
–snip–
http://10.116.3.99:7095/bbupgr ÷ ø /register /store regbb@etisalat.ae etisalat_upgr@etisalat.ae

ù ú #com/ss8/interceptor/tcp/HTTPDeliver S û ü ý þ ÿ java/lang/InterruptedException !com/ss8/interceptor/tcp/smtp/SMTP 10.116.3.99 bb_register@etislat.ae mail.etisalat.ae ƒ „ ,net/rim/device/api/crypto/AESEncryptorEngine net/rim/device/api/crypto/AESKey EtisalatIsAProviderForBlackBerry ] ^ S é S e com/ss8/interceptor/app/Transmit
–snap–
and from the registration.cod:
–snip–
$ØMessage-ID: < $ØName: $ØNetworkStarted_ $ØPOST $ØPlatformVersion ‘ $ØProfile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.0 $ØReason $ØRegistration
$ØReply-To: $ØSender: $ØSent: $ØServiceChange_ $ØState $ØSubject: $ØTime $ØTo: $ØUName: $ØUTF-8 $ØUnsupported content type
–snap–
this is botnet, isn’t it?
I think they got hacked by “3rd party”.
I#m sry that i can’t run it,
but i wonder what “registration”means

By: Silence is Golden | UAEBlogging.com

Silence is Golden | UAEBlogging.com — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:35:02 +0000

[...] what they’re talking about – as does Steve Halzinski, whose post on BlackBerrycool here still contains his considered view on the nature of the ‘network update’ that [...]

By: Aws

Aws — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:38:34 +0000

The following workaround to overcome the battery life and excessive heating problem.

1- Go to Options

2- Select Advanced Options

3- Select Applications

4- Press the Menu button

5- Under which select “Modules”

6- Start typing the word Registration

7- Once found press the Menu button again

8- Under which select “Edit Permissions”

9- Select all the three options and whatever under it to Deny, therefore you will end up with the following

+ Connection Deny

+ Interactions Deny

+ User Data. Deny

10- Once done press the Menu button again.

11- Select Save

It is important to save the new settings. The blackberry may ask you to reboot to accept the changes made.

The above workaround has solved problem for most of the Users, and I do not take any responsibility on my part. What you’ve got to lose I did it solved my problem but unfortunatly the update is not removable.

Best Regards,

By: Cláudio

Cláudio — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:48:21 +0000

By: Kaarlisk

Kaarlisk — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:20:13 +0000

It was not deleted.
The link changed – http://supportforums.blackberry.com/rim/board/message?board.id=BlackBerryDeviceSoftware&thread.id=5632&view=by_date_ascending&page=2

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:44:28 +0000

Funny how the comment was deleted from blackberry forums….

By: 007

007 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:17:43 +0000

Only solution so far is wiping the handheld, and
a) restoring a previously backed-up profile that does not contain Etisalat’s update (believed to be contained in the “Applications Permissions” Database)
b) reconfiguring profile from scratch

Overwriting the “Applications Permissions” Database believed to contain the patch was unsuccessful – it appears that the “Applications Permissions” Database on the handheld cannot be overwritten, as other databases (contacts, tasks, URLs, etc…) can be.

By: BlackBerry

BlackBerry — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:57:18 +0000

[...] Here is the example post: UAE intelligence on citizens finished an Etisalat BlackBerry update … [...]

By: JAD

JAD — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:15:10 +0000

Has anyone worked out how to “undo” the patch yet? The impact on the battery is very annoying. Thanks

By: 007

007 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:01:24 +0000

Anyone know how to remove or disable the patch? Haven’t been able to find anything out there about how to do so yet.

By: UAE/Etisalat BlackBerry Spying « Sousveillance

UAE/Etisalat BlackBerry Spying « Sousveillance — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:13:23 +0000

[...] BlackBerry Cool [...]

By: akb

akb — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:45:50 +0000

This should clear things up..

http://www.ss8.com/company-management.php

Derek G. Roga

Sr. Vice President, Business Development

Derek joined SS8 in January of 2009 as part of the acquisition of OCI Mobile. As founder and owner of OCI Mobile Derek successfully developed technology for smart phone interception. In 2005 Derek began developing the Middle East region to introduce the BlackBerry solution; he was the founder and CEO of EMS Mobile which became RIM’s Strategic Channel Partner for the region. Previous positions within the wireless and mobility industry include; founder and CEO of Wall Street Communications which started in 1998 to specifically launch the product that has now taken the world by storm – BlackBerry. Wall Street Communications which then merged with Outercurve Technologies in 2000 became RIM’s most successful and prolific partner. Derek was the Chief Operating Officer and then went on to become the Chief Executive Officer of Outercurve Technologies. Derek started his career with what is now Morgan Stanley and holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Saint Francis University.

By: davidmccormack (David McCormack)

davidmccormack (David McCormack) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:12:58 +0000

@angelistiic Hey, were you complaining about your BB battery being drained after a recent OS update? Seen this story? http://bit.ly/122Swo

By: Koolpep (Koolpep)

Koolpep (Koolpep) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:31:26 +0000

RT @BlackBerryCool: UAE spying on citizens through an Etisalat BlackBerry update? http://bit.ly/122Swo

By: blkboxstudioz (Tony Million)

blkboxstudioz (Tony Million) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:18:35 +0000

UAE spying on citizens through an Etisalat BlackBerry update? http://bit.ly/122Swo

By: webchetan (webchetan)

webchetan (webchetan) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:12:48 +0000

RT @BlackBerryCool UAE spying on citizens through an Etisalat BlackBerry update? http://bit.ly/122Swo