Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Ban on BlackBerry data a security badge of honor
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Ban on BlackBerry data a security badge of honor
AFP - Wednesday, August 4
Send
IM Story
Print
Ban on BlackBerry data a security badge of honor
Slideshow: Full Photo Coverage: Internet Portals & Search Engines
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - – Security experts have said that banning BlackBerry data service in the United Arab Emirates smacks of political backlash and could be a testament to how hard it is to snoop on that network.
"The BlackBerry security model is very different from other phones," said Kevin Mahaffey of Lookout mobile security firm.
"It is end-to-end and the encryption is so strong nobody knows how to monitor it." Related article: Saudi regulator to stop some Blackberrry services
Canada-based Research In Motion built its own platform for business customers that encrypts BlackBerry email messages and routes them in a way that keeps the data off limits from even telecom firms that carry the transmissions.
"They have such good security that I think some countries are uncomfortable with the fact that they can't intercept it," said Lookout chief executive John Hering.
While iPhones have been all the rage with smartphones users thrilled by games, social networking, video watching and other casual uses, BlackBerry has remained a favorite for business people craving secure wireless communications.
BlackBerry smartphones can be hard targets for countries that do electronic snooping in the name of national security.
RIM on Tuesday denied allegations it had offered some governments access to customers' data and not others, as it faced a ban in two Gulf States and India.
The UAE has said that BlackBerry services including messenger, web browsing and email will be suspended because they "allow individuals to commit violations" that the country cannot monitor.
People who use BlackBerry handsets as personal smartphones don't enjoy the same protections as companies that contract with RIM to deploy the devices to employees.
BlackBerry security is designed to let business users "transmit information wirelessly while also providing them with the necessary confidence that no one, including RIM, could access their data," according to RIM.
RIM uses a special layer of coding to shield email as it is routed to the company's servers and then on to intended recipients, according to Mahaffey.
BlackBerry also uses encrypted validation to identify handsets connecting to the network, according to Peter Beardmore of Russia-based computer security firm Kaspersky Lab.
"BlackBerry is a more highly secured device," Beardmore said.
"There are a wide variety of services available through the BlackBerry network that you are going to be hard pressed to find in other services."
Typical smartphones route email through telecom service providers, which can intercept data for governments.
Text messages, voice calls, and Internet browsing activity are up for grabs on all smartphones because telecom service providers can see that activity, said Nicholas Percoco, vice president of SpiderLabs at Trustwave Information Security firm.
Online purchases, banking and other financial dealings should be protected by encryption that is standard practice for such transactions.
Percoco wondered whether the move against BlackBerry in the UAE was political backlash.
Two years ago, RIM charged that an update issued by UAE's largest telecom service provider, Etisalat, was actually spyware, and that it enabled unauthorized access to information stored on users' smartphones.
Microsoft makes ActiveSync software for businesses that can encrypt email sent with iPhone, Android, or Windows smartphones, Percoco noted. Related article: New Blackberry launched to take on iPhone
Secure, encrypted connections can be made wirelessly from laptops with the help of VPN software from Cisco. Good Technology sells software to protect messages on mobile phones.
"This whole thing may not be security charged, it may be politically charged," Percoco said.
"From a security standpoint, it doesn't really jibe," he continued. "It looks like basically RIM wouldn't let them put a bugging device in the phone."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US to pump $1.2 bln to expand broadband access AFP - 36 minutes ago
US-TECH Summary Reuters - 51 minutes ago
Saudi BlackBerry users shocked by ban AFP - 2 hours 28 minutes ago
Saudi and RIM in last-ditch talks Reuters - 2 hours 42 minutes ago
Google changes trademark ad policy in Europe Reuters - Thursday, August 5
News Search
Top Stories
Israel cuts down trees that caused Lebanon clashes
British bank Lloyds returns to profit in first half
Wimbledon finalist Zvonareva triumphs at WTA tennis
Isner ousts Thiemo de Bakker in Washington tennis
Societe General sees second-quarter profits triple
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
Internet Portals & Search EnginesLatest development in the online world
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Elite US cyber team courts hackers to fight terrorists
US obesity growing 'faster than anyone imagined'
Spanish resort city readies to host Michelle Obama, daughter
Fearful Americans save more as recovery slows
Schumacher says 'sorry' for Barrichello move
More Most Viewed »
Parachuting donkey shocks Russian beachgoers
Argentine students crack three-decade-old murder mystery
World's first full face transplant man appears on TV
Paris Hilton caught with cannabis in handbag
Calcium supplements linked to heart attacks: study
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Wednesday, 4 August 2010 Explosions kill 12, wound 55 in Iraqi city of Kut
Russia struggles to quell wildfire emergency
Haider's millions came from Libya, Iraq: media reports
US-TECH Summary
Lebanon, Israel troops clash on border
US raises rights concerns at Russia detentions
Analysis: Cash-rich Apple's CFO may have world's best job
Fearful Americans save more as recovery slows
Explosions kill 12 and wound 55 in Iraqi city of Kut
|
42 killed in Iraq attacks as Qaeda plants flag
BlackBerry users lambast planned UAE services ban
Pfizer notches nine percent profit jump
U.S. aims to tighten sanctions grip on Iran
|
RIM unveils new BlackBerry to counter iPhone
U.S. aims to tighten sanctions grip on Iran
GM's US sales up 5.4 percent in July, Ford up 3.1 percent
30 killed, 80 wounded in Iraq twin car bombs: medic
Israeli officer killed in Lebanon border clashes
Taliban attack main US base in Afghan south
Lebanese troops killed, Israelis wounded in clashes
Cuban food output down despite agriculture reforms
|
Pakistan in fresh warning as floods hit 3.2 million
Pakistan's Zardari says war with Taliban being lost
NY mosque near Sept. 11 site wins approval
Pakistani president faces terror row in Britain
Indonesia must reach political deal with Papua: ICG
Fiji ruler says he doesn't trust his people with democracy
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Hackers could enslave iPad and iPhone: security firm
|
Lady Gaga wins record 13 MTV video music nominations
Tourists lose themselves in new London maze
U.S. authorities able to tap BlackBerry messaging
|
Obesity weighs heavily on health, lifespan in US: study
Taiwan business furious at court's environment decision
Large gaps in Asia-Pacific development goals: UN
Russian rapper jailed for 10 days after mocking police
Employees at Indian Volvo bus plant strike over pay
Spanish resort readies to host Obamas
India microlender raises $353 million in share sale
Boeing hikes Indian plane purchase forecast by 15%
Lady Gaga wins record 13 MTV video music nominations
|
Sandra Bullock earns top paycheck in Hollywood
|
Qaeda linked group claims attack on Japan tanker
Societe General sees second-quarter profits triple
Political violence rages in Karachi, 12 more killed
|
Israeli shelling kills Gaza militant
Kenyans vote in referendum on new constitution
|
Isner ousts Thiemo de Bakker in Washington tennis
Qaeda linked group claims attack on Japan tanker
|
U.S. urges Japan follow EU with more Iran sanctions
|
US obesity growing 'faster than anyone imagined'
Spanish resort city readies to host Michelle Obama, daughter
Sharp plans to launch 3D smartphone this year
Haider's millions came from Libya, Iraq: media reports
Israeli shelling kills Gaza militant: medics
|
Motorola, Verizon team up to launch TV device: report
Saudi regulator says Blackberry ban begins Friday
Obama heartbroken by Zimbabwe's decline
|
First New Zealand soldier dies in Afghanistan
Hackers could enslave iPad, iPhone: security firms
Afghanistan's ranks of civil servants under siege
Pakistan floods threaten to bring food crisis
|
Saudi regulator stops BlackBerry services starting Friday
Pacific island leaders urged to engage Fiji
RIM unleashes BlackBerry Torch to take on iPhone
Wyclef Jean to seek Haitian presidency: report
|
Motorola, Verizon team up to launch TV device: report
American Idol dumps Sony label for Universal
Pakistan floods threaten to bring food crisis
Canada gives $2m in aid to flood-hit Pakistan
Fans face long wait for final "Twilight" movie
Australia PM Gillard faces tobacco, poll battles
At least three dead in China school attack
Cambodia 'respects' KRouge jailer's conviction: PM
Global Weather-Celsius
Militants claim suicide bomb attack on Japan tanker
RIM unveils new BlackBerry to counter Apple iPhone
|
S.Korea warns N.Korea on eve of naval drill
Lady Gaga, Carla Bruni top Vanity Fair best dressed
Millions of Japanese trapped in 'hidden poverty'
Motorola, Verizon team up to launch TV device: report
|
Gaza girls turn to fishing to feed family
Sharp plans to launch 3D smartphone this year
|
US to target secret funds of N.Korea's Kim
Emmy's actor race a (mostly) level playing field
Indonesian Internet use booming
Justin Bieber to play himself in 3D movie
Rome re-lives the Dolce Vita in a photo exhibit
Fans face long wait for final "Twilight" movie
New musical returns Alice to Wonderland, via Broadway
American Idol dumps Sony label for Universal
Mitsui: won't pay BP until spill cause 'revealed'
Justin Bieber ready for big-screen biopic
Toyota first quarter net profit 2.2 billion dlrs
Pakistani c.bank buys 33.10 bln rupees of govt paper
Seoul shares end flat; refiners rise, autos fall
S&P owner hits back at China criticism: report
Taiwan insurer shares up on China investment rules
PAKISTAN
Key promotion fuels Tata succession speculation
Seoul shares end flat; refiners rise, autos fall
S.Korea bonds up; US data damps rate hike concern
Fans face long wait for final Twilight movie
|
Emmy's actor race a (mostly) level playing field
|
Justin Bieber to play himself in 3D movie
|
Wyclef Jean to seek Haitian presidency: report
|
New musical returns Alice to Wonderland, via Broadway
|
Israel axes trees, nixes tension after Lebanon clash
Dutch teen sets off for world solo sailing bid
Iran's Ahmadinejad unhurt after blast near motorcade
|
Ahmadinejad unhurt after motorcade explosion
British bank Lloyds returns to profit in first half
Israel cuts down trees that caused Lebanon clashes
Saudi and RIM in last-ditch talks
Pakistan president under attack over Europe trip
U.N. supports Israeli claim on Lebanon clash
|
Wimbledon finalist Zvonareva triumphs at WTA tennis
Google changes trademark ad policy in Europe
Instant view
Russian wildfires death toll rises to 48: ministry
Google loosens Europe ad trademark controls
Iran's Ahmadinejad unhurt after blast near motorcade
IPads set for official Israeli launch in a few weeks
Czechs bury anti-communist fighter
|
Gaza militants may be behind rockets, Egypt says
EU Commission chose iPhone and HTC over BlackBerry
Two U.N. Gaza probes will not overlap: rights chief
|
Iran denies grenade attack on Ahmadinejad
Ban on BlackBerry data a security badge of honor
Take stance on Bashir arrest, group tells Africa
Italy minister says snap polls possible in autumn
|
Naomi Campbell gives blood diamond testimony at Taylor trial
|
Food fears for Pakistan flood survivors
South Korea drills draw North ire, no retaliation seen
Three children die in latest China school attack
Saudi and RIM in last-ditch talks
|
Toyota posts quarterly profit, raises forecast
Man detained after China school attack: state media
Politics trump bling as "Real Housewives" move to D.C.
Intel settles U.S. charges that it stifled rivals
|
Asian families struggle to support children, parents
Wyclef Jean to seek Haitian presidency: report
Google changes trademark ad policy in Europe
|
EU Commission chose iPhone and HTC over BlackBerry
|
IPads set for official Israeli launch in a few weeks
|
BlackBerry 'will not let India monitor messages'
Indian tycoon 'targets Blackburn takeover'
Pakistani stocks flat; rupee firms; o/n rates down
Liverpool bidder has Wall St. flair, Beijing connections
Taiwan expects big leap in China procurements
Floods destroy Pakistan farmers' livelihoods
Politics trump bling as Real Housewives move to D.C.
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights