Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Android
    • Android
    • Cybersecurity
    • Mobile

    What the Blackphone Means for Mobile Security

    By
    Sean Michael Kerner
    -
    July 2, 2014
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      The world needs a secure Android phone like the Blackphone. Not only will it protect users against privacy violations, but it potentially will always be fully patched, too.

      The Blackphone began shipping on June 30 as a security-focused mobile device. At its core, the Blackphone uses the PrivatOS operating system, which is based on Android KitKat. The general idea, as I see it, is that by being focused on security, Blackphone developers will make sure that security patches are quickly integrated into the phone.

      Hardly a week goes by when there isn’t some news about yet another mobile vulnerability, which more often than not is directly targeted at Android. One of the most recent examples comes from IBM, which published an Android security advisory on June 23 describing a buffer overflow condition, which Google thus far has only patched for its Android 4.4 KitKat users.

      The flaw that IBM discovered is not a unique occurrence and the fact that Google is not patching all Android operating system versions at the same time unfortunately is the common practice as well. Simply put, the fragmented nature of Android, in terms of both version number and the myriad handset vendors that roll their own flavors, makes comprehensive Android patching a particularly daunting challenge.

      Unpatched, publicly disclosed vulnerabilities, however, are only one of many security risks facing mobile users today. In the post-Edward Snowden era, where awareness of mass surveillance tools by nation-states is part of the public consciousness, there is a need for a privacy-enhanced mobile device, and that’s where the Blackphone fits in. The Blackphone is a joint venture of Silent Circle and Geeksphone. Silent Circle builds private encrypted voice and video messaging applications that are now directly integrated onto the Blackphone.

      Going a step further, the Blackphone integrates technology from Disconnect that enables users to privately search the Web and connect to sites and services with a secured virtual private network (VPN). The Blackphone also provides the Kismet Smarter Wi-Fi Manager to protect users against the dangers of untrusted WiFi hotspots. In case a device is lost or stolen, the Blackphone includes remote wipe and protect functionality.

      The Blackphone isn’t special because of any one of its specific security features. What makes it special is that it integrates all of the various security features out of the box in a phone that is intended to be secure from day one. I don’t think any other Android handset vendor can make that claim.

      What’s also interesting is that most of the Blackphone’s features can be installed by any Android user on the device of his or her own choosing. Nearly any Android user, for example, can take advantage of the Silent Circle, Disconnect and Kismet apps. The ability to do remote lock and wipe is another feature that can be added to many of the available Android handsets.

      The challenge isn’t necessarily the apps to secure Android; rather, it’s having everything in one place on one device from the time the user first powers on the phone. That’s why the Blackphone is important: It makes a secure Android device available, but it also helps to raise awareness for all Android users that security is within their reach.

      Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at eWEEK and InternetNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.

      Sean Michael Kerner
      Sean Michael Kerner is an Internet consultant, strategist, and contributor to several leading IT business web sites.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×