Times Call for a Completely Secure Smartphone

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Recently we have been constantly reminded of how vulnerable are our mobile phones – the infamous NSA spy program, for example, or the smartphones hacked during the recent upheavals in Ukraine. This summer a new phone will supposedly solve all these issues – a completely secure smartphone called Blackphone.

The new device popped up early this year. It’s manufactured by Spanish company Geeksphone, running a special operating system called PrivatOS. The device’s encryption software was designed by the U.S. company Silent Circle. In February the partners found a carrier willing to sell the Blackphone – the Dutch KPN – although user could also purchase the device independently and install their own SIM cards.

IHLS – Israel Homeland Security

One of the differences between the Blackphone and “normal” commercial mobile phones, according to the developers, is the fact that the Blackphone doesn’t automatically negotiate with wireless networks around it, allowing outside elements to track the device. Instead, integrated software allows users to limit this behavior to specific locations, such as their homes or offices.

The device will start shipping June 2014, while experts are still debating its merits. According to experts the Blackphone is much more resistant to routine threats, but they can’t determine yet whether it’s really “NSA proof.” Some of them also reminded us that hackers could probably access the device through the various downloadable applications that users will install on it later, the source of many other vulnerabilities.

Source: MIT Technology Review