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BlackBerry Says Its New Android Smartphone DTEK 50 Is the 'World's Most Secure' (theverge.com)
BlackBerry, which once assumed the tentpole position in the mobile market, announced on Tuesday the BlackBerry DTEK 50, its second smartphone powered by Google's Android operating system. The Canadean company is marketing the DTEK as the 'world's most secure' phone. It is priced at $300, and will go on sale in select markets on August 8. The Verge adds:The DTEK50 has a 5.2-inch, 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, 3GB RAM, 13-megapixel camera, and 2,610mAh battery. The 8-megapixel front camera also includes a flash for taking selfies. It runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow with BlackBerry's software features, such as the Hub. The software is similar to the software on the Priv released last year. The security features are highlighted right in the device's name, as it has BlackBerry's DTEK software that protects users from malware and other security problems often seen on Android smartphones. The DTEK app lets users quickly get an overview of their device's security and take action on any potential issues. BlackBerry says that it has modified Android with its own technology originally developed for the BB10 platform to make it more secure. The company is also committing to rapid updates to deliver security patches shortly after they are released.
The "world's most secure" comes with free backdoor access for anyone who comes knocking.
No thanks BB, you're no longer relevant.
Have you ever fallen asleep at the keybhanusdiog?
The world's most secure smartphone, if you trust every government in the world and BlackBerry employees given the authority to choose which government requests they assist with by ignoring your privacy...
What's the point of a "secure" Android phone?
So that only Google can know your position, your credit card number, all your contacts, your search history and all your phone calls?
I'd never buy BB after them selling out their customers to police forces world-wide.
the RCMP snooping through your phone https://news.vice.com/article/...
by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
BlackBerry CEO Chen recently said he was "disturbed" by Apple's stance on security. Namely Apple refused to work with the FBI to create special OS to allow an iPhone to be brute force cracked. "If the world is in danger, we should be able to help out," he said. How does this resolve with this BlackBerry being "the most secure". I read that statement as BlackBerry would have cooperated with the FBI to hack a customer's phone. What is to stop BlackBerry from planting backdoors in their OS to allow this?
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
Blackberry.. secure
Gremlins.. little green men...HAHAHAHA!
Ohhh murrrder!
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Is Where It Is Destined To ROT!
Shoulda called it Elderberry.
Didn't the CEO just a week ago say Apple was being unpatriotic or some such nonsense for making a secure phone? Maybe he still feels that way but BB has added a backdoor to its "secure" phone.
So secure, they've eliminated the users. And to further enhance security they'll soon bury them in a landfill. Why do we even bother running the story? They make Linux on the desktop seem mainstream...
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
Does it report when I am on a government spying cellphone tower?
Does it report when the connection is untrusted or detects a MITM?
Does it do encryption without using ANY of your services?
Does it not allow any software to be installed without rebooting to an admin mode and then only allows offline apk installs?
Does it wipe all user storage before reboot?
No?
Then it is not secure.... in fact it's insecure as hell.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Who in his right mind would use these phones? Blackberry has been proven to be untrustworthy.
Better get an old BB, reflash it with older signed firmware., setup your own BES using your own self-signed certs on the device.
What is a Canadean?
What is a "Canadean"?
I didn't realize Blackberry was owned by a softdrink research company. www.canadean.com
Were giving access codes to their encryption to the US Government early on?
"Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Einstein
titanic is unsinkable.
Poor Blackberry, they still don't get it.
Regardless of this phone' s actual security, Blackberry has yet again failed to realize that the larger market does not give a single flying fuck about security. They all willingly and eagerly toss out all security and concern by snapping up Apple and Android devices that viciously track and spy on them They do this for the thrill and excitement of being able to post on Facebook/Instagram and Play Pokemon Go. Even I, who believes in security and privacy, carry an Android device, though many spy features are disabled (at least as far as I can tell).
Blackberry, just doesn't get it. Microsoft Mobile will probably last longer than Blackberry and everyone agrees that Microsoft Mobile is a dead man walking.
BlackBerry, which once assumed the tentpole position in the mobile market
"Frozen" is a tent pole for Disney. The iPhone is a tent pole for Apple. The Galaxy line of phones is a tent pole for Samsung. There is no such thing as a "tentpole position" in a market. Perhaps the editor meant "pole position"?
"BlackBerry says that it has modified Android with its own technology originally developed for the BB10 platform to make it more secure"
Are there any technical details as to how BlackBerry achieves enhanced security on Android?
The "world's most secure" comes with free backdoor access for anyone who comes knocking.
Only if you get your mail through a telco.
If you have your own BES server (i.e., corporate or government orgs), then BB/RIM can't touch it... and that's who they're marketing this to.
They sure stood with Apple in a fight with the feds over security. Oh wait...
They put a BB10 logo over the back of an iPhone?
Wheel of Time: Book by Book and Sumview (summary review) Bigdady92 style: http://bigdady92.blogspot.com/
BB CEO was disturbed by Apple just a few days back.
John Chen said he was disturbed that Apple valued its customers' privacy and its own reputation above government demands for backdoors. I think I can safely say that BB's reputation is now 'disturbed'.
BlackBerry CEO John Chen said he is "disturbed" by Apple's tough approach to encryption and user privacy, warning that the firm's attitude is harmful to society. Earlier this year, Chen said in response to Apple resisting the government's demands to unlock an iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino shooters: "We are indeed in a dark place when companies put their reputations above the greater good." During BlackBerry's Security Summit in New York this week, Chen made several more comments about Apple's stance on encryption. "One of our competitors, we call it 'the other fruit company,' has an attitude that it doesn't matter how much it might hurt society, they're not going to help," he said. "I found that disturbing as a citizen. I think BlackBerry, like any company, should have a basic civil responsibility. If the world is in danger, we should be able to help out." He did say there was a lot of "nonsense" being reported about BlackBerry and its approach to how it handles user information. "Of course, there need to be clear guidelines. The guidelines we've adopted require legal assets. A subpoena for certain data. But if you have the data, you should give it to them," he said. "There's some complete nonsense about what we can and can't do. People are mad at us that we let the government have the data. It's absolute garbage. We can't do that." Chen also warned that mandatory back doors aren't a good idea either, hinting at the impending Investigatory Powers Bill. "There's proposed legislation in the U.S., and I'm sure it will come to the EU, that every vendor needs to provide some form of a back door. That is not going to fly at all. It just isn't," he said.
You can't handle the truth.
This from BlackBerry advertising: Detect.. Detek... Dtek, get it guys? Can we be relevant again? Please?
Ok even if it were true that the Blackberry was secure, which it isn't. It's still a sad day that we need a special phone to protect ourselves from our own government.
But they'll hand your data as soon as the goverment asks for it.
They keep everything as far from Google as they can.
We developers of Blackberry are pleased that you compare are superior security and libertias to that of the wards of Hell (the Sobibor among Alcatraz of lesser Security firms and consultancies). No mistakes are made here because of our fine applications of the modern Re-Education Centers. We happily boast that former faculties of University of Phenis and ITT Tech have grown into our administration. Now you have a nice day!
Bum high in the air, pants down.
Funnily enough, it could give BB's dwindling sales a boost too, out of sheer comedy value. And some may value the honesty inherent in a logo that gives accurate company portrayal too.
At the end of the day though, BB execs have only themselves to blame for their sheer lack of insight and non-existent foresight. When your profits depend on customer perception, the last thing you should consider doing is acquiescing to the demands of your customers' enemies.
It's really sad that the whole fracas about Blackberry handing a single encryption key that opened up the doors to all non-corporate Blackberry users for the Canadian Mounted Police got burried and didn't get enough attention from costumers, but at least for me, the company is fucking dead regarding privacy and security.
It really shows how much the news was ignored when the same company dares to say they came up with the world's most secure phone after all that. John Chen (Blackberry's CEO) made his position extremely clear. It's still there for anyone who wants to read it: http://blogs.blackberry.com/20...
This was written after it was revealed that Blackberry was using a single encryption key for all users of non-corporate Blackberry accounts. Canadian Mounted Police was given access to it in a glarringly major security and privacy flaw. The company caved in on giving keys to conversations of all it's costumers because the Canadian Mounted Police wanted to have access to some criminal conversations. It's basically the same thing as if Apple decided to open backdoors for the FBI.
I can only imagine that the company didn't close after that due to common users' ignorance. People failed to understand how something like this puts the company as the worst among all regarding privacy and security. Luckly for all of us, Blackberry is already dying anyways.
Where is "Canadean" stuff made?
This phone is basically rebranded Alcatel Idol 4 (which Alcatel itself rebrands from chinese TCL corporation) with custom Blackberry ROM and software.
I would rather buy Blackphone for security.
Blackberry is still a thing?
As if Blackberry security is going to save planet Earth.
Get the fuck out BULLSHIT.
BlackBerry + Secure = Completely Amusing
( We swear we won't give up the encryption keys this time ! Really ! Pinky Swear ! )
... sorry, but without a doubt I have the world's most secure phone - an old Nexus 4. The thing hasn't been able to power on for a couple of years.
Secure against what? Don't they know that the lion's share of the really dangerously sophisticated hacks and digital weaponry originate from The Government? I am disturbed by the fruit company's harmful attitude to society. We are in a dark place when companies put their reputations above the greater good. It doesn't matter how much it might hurt society, they're not going to help. I think BlackBerry like any company, should have a basic civil responsibility. If the world is in danger, we should help it out.
If so, then it isn't even in the running for "most secure".
the hard way?
I vaguely recall their "unbreakable" campaign--which promptly painted a big target on them to be disproved.
It isn't secure if you give anyone access. Blackberry, keep failing man. Keep failing.
Support your local school shooter, give them your firearms.
Did the editors turn off Auto-Correct? Fucking grade-schoolers can't spell Canadian.
> Canadean
Geez Louise, manishs! It's *CANADIAN*! Now write it out 500 times. :P
Astro
Let's imagine that the claims are true and this phone really is a lot more secure (this may even be true, depending on updates and what crap runs by default)
We're then just heading into a world society where the market has decided that if you don't spend $300 on a phone, you don't deserve security. Get a $100 or $150 phone? It's functionally similar, with minor differences like a 720p screen instead of 1080p, but there's no security updates so you might set yourself to get raped by anyone who cracks in first.
So if you needed those additional $200 for rent and food etc. (like a month's income in most countries), you'll pay with your freedom and/or safety. This is rather disgusting and the opposite of what we have with desktop and laptop computers.
What is this gonna give in three, five, ten years? Are we setting up a huge underclass of unkwnowing or helpless billions of people that can't secure their (mobile and only) computer, although its use may get more and more mandatory? How long till government/military/thug malware gets deployed to identifiy targets for genocide, bombing, execution, emprisonment, torture, exile or otherwise removal from society?
1) BB has always maintained that they will cooperate with the legal privacy practices within the countries they operate in. Within Canada that means that if the RCMP want to take a peak they will need to get a judge to give them a warrant to do so. I believe there is an exception where they would have to prove there is "imminent" risk to life, which due to a somewhat recent ruling is likely difficult to do. If you think it is otherwise for any other phone, you are fooling yourself.
2) Technically they said the "phone" is the most secure. They said nothing of their servers which may be recording everything and open for inspection! :)
I've never had a BB and I doubt I would get one. However on the topic of security, if you are depending on any companies claims you probably will be disappointed. If you want to be truly secure, you need to do that personally and there are ways to achieve that both in technology and process. It likely won't be very convenient, as security never is, but that really depends how important it is to you. For most people (99.99999%) there is no need for ultra iron clad security anyway, nothing I say or do is really all that important really.