“BlackBerry users in the United Arab Emirates will soon be unable to send emails and messages without fear of government snooping, under tighter restrictions on internet communication in the Gulf state.
The UAE is to ban individuals and small businesses from using the most secure BlackBerry settings – for email, web browsing and BlackBerry Messenger – as part of security fears sweeping the Middle East. Only companies with more than 20 BlackBerry accounts will be able to access the encrypted BlackBerry service, which is favoured by corporate users and government agencies.”
From The Guardian
Tag Archives: Blackberry
UAE to tighten BlackBerry restrictions
April 18, 2011 – 11:02 am
Coreflood and Communication Controls
April 15, 2011 – 10:26 am
“This week, the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI took action to disable the “Coreflood” botnet. In an unprecedented move, a federal judge granted permission to authorities to seize control of the botnet, which compromised private computers with malicious software that captured private online banking information from users. The Internet Systems Consortium, a non-profit organization, was given permission to takeover the botnet’s command-and-control servers — used to communicate with infected private computers — and replace the servers with its own.”
RIM’s Messenger remedy not satisfactory, India says
March 16, 2011 – 2:06 pm
“Indian security agencies are not satisfied with a plan offered by Research In Motion (RIM-T60.150.691.16%) for them to have access to data on its BlackBerry Messenger services, junior Telecoms Minister Sachin Pilot told parliament Wednesday.
RIM gave India access to its consumer services, including its Messenger services, in January after Indian authorities raised security concerns, but said it could not allow monitoring of its enterprise e-mail.”
From The Globe and Mail
How safe is your smartphone?
March 15, 2011 – 1:48 pm
“Smartphones are getting pretty clever these days but it is unlikely they will outwit the cybercriminals as fraudsters increasingly go mobile.
Last week Android Market, the shop front for applications aimed at Android smartphones, was hit by around 60 malicious apps.
It is thought that they did little real damage other than to Android’s reputation, but the incident put the issue of mobile security back in the headlines.”
From BBC News
RIM awaits privacy ruling in India
March 2, 2011 – 2:28 pm
“The three-year struggle between BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM) and India over what can remain private continues to be played out in public.
Although the Indian government revealed that RIM had recently provided encryption keys for its messaging and internet services to Indian security officials, it maintained that the company had not provided enough technical detail to allow sufficient use of the access.”
From SC Magazine
BlackBerry warns tougher measures would affect India’s business
February 23, 2011 – 11:53 am
“BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM), which has faced many deadlines from India for providing access to its enterprise service or encrypted emails in view of threats to the country’s national security, on Tuesday said that any tough measures by New Delhi won’t help in attracting businesses or its huge outsourcing industry.
RIM, which has already given the Indian authorities access to its consumer services since January, is unwilling to bend on its enterprise emails in the world’s fastest growing mobile market.
Expressing its willingness to discuss any policy changes, RIM said since its competitors also use encryption in India, they too should be the subject of the Indian scrutiny.”
From The Times of India
Operators ordered to suspend BlackBerry services that cannot be monitored
February 16, 2011 – 11:55 am
“Reporters Without Borders urges the Indian government to rescind an order it issued to national telecom operators on 13 February to suspend all mobile messaging services that cannot be monitored by the country’s law enforcement agencies, including the BlackBerry smartphone’s corporate email service, called BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
The move is the latest step in the government’s battle with Research In Motion, the BlackBerry’s Canadian manufacturer, for access to the BlackBerry’s encrypted services. Reporters Without Borders fears that it could lead generalized monitoring, filtering and censorship of mobile Internet services.”
India demands full BlackBerry access
January 31, 2011 – 7:21 pm
“India rejected on Monday Research In Motion’s offer to allow it only partial access to its BlackBerry data services as neighbouring Pakistan also moved to restrict the popular smartphone’s services.
It was not immediately clear what the Indian government, which says it is driven by security concerns, would now do after the Canadian smartphone maker failed to fulfill demands to monitor encrypted corporate email by a Jan. 31 deadline. RIM had previously said was confident India would not ban its services.
Earlier this month, RIM said it had given India the means to access its Messenger service ahead of the deadline but reiterated that it could not give the authorities access to monitor secure corporate emails.”
From The Globe and Mail
Pakistan to cut BB services for foreign missions-sources
January 31, 2011 – 4:14 pm
“Pakistani authorities have asked mobile telephone operators to stop BlackBerry services to foreign missions in the country amid concern about the security of the communications, industry sources said on Monday.
Two industry officials confirmed that the regulator, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), had asked them to stop all Blackberry services to foreign missions.
Pakistani industry and government officials say that the government had never allowed BlackBerry services to foreign missions and inbound roamers when the services were launched in Pakistan in 2005.
The government also initially banned the more secure BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) services in Pakistan.”
From Reuters
How Egyptians Protestors Use BlackBerrys in a Tech Blackout
January 31, 2011 – 2:56 pm
“Egyptian protestors have discovered a powerful tool: BlackBerry devices. Stellar encryption appears to have allowed users of the devices to escape (for the most part) the Egyptian government’s crackdown on communications with the outside world.
Shutting down BlackBerrys requires access to an entirely separate set of servers than other mobile units. This loophole indicates a possible motivation for earlier clashes between BlackBerry creators Research in Motion (RIM) and the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
The Egyptian government never demanded access to BlackBerry data. The government is believed to lack access to decrypting messages and data sent by BlackBerry Internet Service.”
From Fast Company
