Posted on May 12, 2009, at 10:50 am .
Phoenix Freeze is an application that uses your Bluetooth enabled BlackBerry to secure a notebook. The application detects how far away you and your BlackBerry are away from your notebook. Step away from your Phoenix Freeze enabled notebook and you’re automatically logged out of Windows. When you return to your notebook Phoenix Freeze automatically logs you back in.
The app is customizable as well. You can tell Phoenix Freeze to log you in and out of Windows, as well as you can configure the security zone to put your notebook to sleep. The app will also let you control several notebooks.
This app is just one more product in a suite of applications that make your BlackBerry the most secure device on the planet.
[Via]
Posted on April 23, 2009, at 10:26 am .
Barack Obama is getting a “souped-up, high security BlackBerry for use in and around the White House and during presidential travel.” The device is a BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, with some incredible security tweaks to make sure Kim Jong Il isn’t listening in on his conversations.
Washington-based Genesis Key developed the special security software for Obama’s new 8830, called SecureVoice, which will presumably run alongside the traditional BlackBerry OS. Officials from the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), the White House Communications Agency (part of the Pentagon’s Defense Information Systems Agency), Research In Motion (RIM) and Genesis Key all collaborated on Barack Obama’s presidential BlackBerry.
The security software was designed to provide access to NSA top secret information. In order for the BlackBerry to access this information, which is the highest grade of security classification, the software was required to be incredibly robust. The software not only works on Obama’s BlackBerry, but is compatible with any 8830 or BlackBerry Curve 83xx. This does not mean it will be available to consumers, but rather it’s needed to be able to communicate with other SecureVoice enabled devices.
Don’t expect any leaked screenshots!
[Al Sacco Via]
Posted on April 21, 2009, at 7:41 am .
A man dubbed the Craigslist killer was found when police investigators used “high-tech leads” and traced “IP addresses to physical locations.”His BlackBerry, which he used constantly, was monitored without him knowing about it. As shown in the photo, his whereabouts can be combined with CCTV cameras to pinpoint his travel route.
The story is reminiscent of the lady who used Google latitude to capture someone who stole her purse.
[Via]
Posted on April 17, 2009, at 9:12 am .
Cellcrypt is a provider of secure mobile voice calling, and they are expanding to meet a growing demand for encrypted voice solutions from North American customers.
Cellcrypt provides end-to-end solutions for encrypted voice calling between smartphones that prevent private conversations from being compromised. This enables individuals within corporations and governments to converse in a highly secure manner without the need for specialised devices. In addition to mobile-to-mobile calling, Cellcrypt also supports secure mobile-to-landline calling.
Unlike traditional solutions that are based on older Circuit Switched Data technology, Cellcrypt uses the latest internet technology to provide unmatched voice call quality, international calling capability, high reliability across wireless networks and real-time encryption to levels specified by the US government. Cellcrypt technology is currently undergoing certification to the FIPS 140-2 standard approved by the US National Institute of Standard (NIST).
As Cellcrypt solutions operate on commonly available smartphones with an easy-to-use interface, rather than specialised equipment, Cellcrypt customers benefit from the latest features provided by leading mobile phone manufacturers on devices that they already own.
Currently, the product is only available for Nokia devices but BlackBerry support will arrive end of June.
Cellcrypt Mobile is the first enterprise-grade secure VoIP solution for mobile phones. Buy online for £2,500 per year.
Posted on March 26, 2009, at 7:43 am .
A recent article about BlackBerry security has highlighted a bill proposed by Liberal MP Marlene Jennings has me concerned for both RIM and other smartphone manufacturers in Canada. The bill will force internet and wireless providers to use technology that can be tapped.
This past winter, Jennings re-tabled a 2005 Liberal bill that would force wireless service providers to make their devices intercept-ready. The bill, the Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act (MITA), had died when the 2006 election was called, but Jennings had re-introduced it as a private member’s bill once before, in 2007.
Univeristy of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist explains exactly why this bill frightens me. Legitimate customers might be reluctant to use mobile email devices if they knew their communications could be intercepted. Enterprise relies on secure data in order to protect their intellectual property and Marlene Jannings’ bill threatens this security.
“There’s obviously many businesses that are willing to use these devices because they’re comfortable with the security attached to them,” said Geist, who holds a Canada Research Chair of internet and e-commerce law.
If this bill also concerns you, you can contact Liberal MP Marlene Jennings through her site here.
[Via]
Posted on March 20, 2009, at 10:47 am .
CanSecWest. a conference focused on infosecurity, is offering $10,000 for each and every successful attack they can execute on any of the five major smartphone operating systems: BlackBerry, Android, iPhone, Nokia/Symbian and Windows Mobile.
The companies behind these products are helping pay the hackers (developers?) with the hopes of learning more about how to improve their device security. Some hackers are finding it very difficulty to hack the devices. “I can’t break them…I don’t have anything for the iPhone, and I don’t know enough about Google,” says Charlie Miller, a guy who recently hacked a MacBook in less than 10 seconds.
So it seems your personal data is much safer than you may have thought.
[Al Sacco CIO Via]
Posted on February 13, 2009, at 1:13 pm .
RIM has issued a security patch for the BlackBerry. The update applies to the Application Web Loader and is related to Microsoft’s recent security updates to Internet Explorer 7. Apparently, the ActiveX component is vulnerable to a memory overflow error which, if exploited, could allow an attacker to remotely execute code on a targeted system. This patch has come in conjunction with the Certicom buyout and rounds out their security efforts quite nicely. Thanks RIM for making our BlackBerrys that much safer.
[Via]
Posted on February 3, 2009, at 4:48 pm .
It looks like the fat lady hasn’t sung yet for RIM’s hopes to purchase Canadian security company Certicom. After Certicom had successfully lobbied the Superior Court to strike down RIM’s hostile bid, instead choosing a larger offer from VeriSign, we recommended that RIM forget the whole mess even happened. Instead, the boys and girls from Waterloo have rolled up their sleeves and rushed back into the game.
Reuters is reporting that RIM has returned with a second offer for Certicom today, doubling its bid to C$3 a share, or about C$131.1 million in total. RIM’s new offer is about 43% higher than VeriSign’s bid.
Certicom has said its independent directors are reviewing the RIM bid with its financial and legal advisers and has plans to tell shareholders what it thinks of the offer no later than Thursday.
|via Reuters|
Posted on February 2, 2009, at 12:11 pm .
Roy Bragg of the San Antonio Express-News has written an article investigating the security surrounding President Obama’s BarackBerry and how that is juxtaposed against the needs of the common BlackBerry user. Unfortunately, Mr. Bragg was unable to interview any BlackBerry experts, so I had to pinch hit. My take on the matter is that one should be more worried about losing their BlackBerry than having it’s transmissions swiped over the air:
The biggest threat, however, is physical — a lost or abandoned handset can be opened and its contents divulged.
Most handsets have built-in password protection, and Microsoft Office documents can also be created with password protection. Older e-mails and documents should also be deleted at regular intervals rather than being archived on the device.
And to protect the device even more, it’s a good practice to keep sensitive data on a remote computer, accessible only while the phone is logged onto the secure network. Blackberry users can buy software such as SmrtGuard, which can back up data, shred sensitive data, and can be tracked or shut down via GPS if it’s stolen.
It’s a well-written piece and poses an interesting question: are you more concerned about losing your BlackBerry or having it ‘hacked’?
|via mySA|
Posted on January 23, 2009, at 10:22 am .
What a bad week for RIM. First, they’re forced to withdraw their hostile takeover bid of Certicom due to a Superior Court Order. Then, news breaks that RIM’s co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie may be dinged for up to C$100 million for a backdating scandal (it looks like Balsillie may also have to step down from the Board of Directors). To close out the week, RIM has awoken today to learn that Internet security provider VeriSign has agreed to purchase Certicom for C$2.10 a share, roughly C$92 million total. VeriSign’s offer trumps RIM’s C$1.50 a share offer – I guess Certicom was serious when they said RIM had undervalued them.
Certicom board chairman Jeffrey Chisholm said “The special committee and the board conducted a thorough process on behalf of Certicom shareholders resulting in a significant increase in value for the company and its owners. We believe this transaction also represents a very promising opportunity for our customers and employees.”
Honestly, RIM, just go back to bed. Take a waiver on the day, have a fun weekend, and come back Monday pretending this week never happened. Thanks to my boy M-Dawg for the tip!
Read full Certicom Press Release
