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Spyware In BlackBerry Updates For Users in the UAE

Posted by timothy on from the this-could-happen-in-$yourcountry-too dept.

mulaz writes with this excerpt from The Register: "An update pushed out to BlackBerry users on the Etisalat network in the United Arab Emirates appears to contain remotely-triggered spyware that allows the interception of messages and emails, as well as crippling battery life. Sent out as a WAP Push message, 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 server without the user being aware of anything beyond a slightly excessive battery drain."

4 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. UAE - no surprise by Torontoman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As far as non-north-american countries go - the UAE is very progressive. But a former client of mine who spent 8 yrs there working in administration pointed out - "in North America we are an odd country and culture - we simply take it as the norm that nobody will listen to us. That level of privacy is not the norm, it's unusual" He was in a senior healthcare position and essentially knew as a foreigner in a position of influence that he would be monitored regularly if not constantly.

    1. Re:UAE - no surprise by spire3661 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Why would any normal western person subject themselves to such de-humanizing rules? You couldnt pay me to go to UAE. Its not that im a trouble-maker or rabble-rouser, but it seems that in those types of countries very small missteps can land you in a whole heap of trouble. Its fine if they want to run their sovereign nation like that, I jsut dont ever plan on subjecting myself to their rules.

      --
      Good-bye
  2. More information by mothrsuperior · · Score: 5, Interesting

    the register has a followup (including some code) here.
      Apparently etisalat claims the spyware is for troubleshooting during the 2g to 3g upgrade.

  3. Re:Did it install on all Blackberry's connected by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    SS8 says their software is used by "some of the largest service providers in the world," so it may have been more surreptitiously pushed in phases by your own provider already.

    Bum, bum, buuuuummmm.

    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?