Smartphone Insecurity

Last week Etisalat, a UAE-based telecom provider, sent out a software update to its customers to install snooping software on Blackberry handsets. Sheran Gunasekera analyzed the malware (PDF). RIM has since responded.

What's the big takeaway from this? Blackberries aren't as secure as we thought. I've always been a champion of Blackberries for the enterprise because of end-to-end encryption and RIM's full control of the software, making the carrier and internet irrelevant... but now we know there is a major security flaw in the Blackberry security architecture that allows carriers update the handset. (Or perhaps anybody pretending to be a carrier). Not cool.

Next up... Apple. Jonathan Zdziarski, author of iPhone Forensics, just flat out stated that the iPhone's encryption is useless for business. By demonstrating how easy it is to hack into a stolen iPhone. I've been telling clients for years, yes the iPhone is the coolest and most utilitarian device out there... and yes, I love mine... but plugging them into your enterprise network is just plain stupid.

Now if only RIM would fix this new massive security hole so I could again preach the goodness of Blackberry for business we'd be all set. And hey guys, maybe build a smartphone we don't need a computer science degree to use while you're at it...

Orwellian DRM

Amazon remotely deletes a book out of your Kindle. The deleted book is George Orwell's 1984. Dystopian DRM fantasy? Hardly - it just happened.

Don't Talk to Me When I'm Typing LOL

xkcd: qwertical aphasia

This has happened to me on numerous occasions...

Finally: Proof of an Apple Tablet on the Horizon

The folks at Gizmodo stumbled upon an Apple patent for identifying "fingerprint signature" gestures. That is, the device (presumably, an iPhone) will identify which finger you're using in a gesture (swipe, touch, etc) and behave accordingly.

What everybody fails to realize is you're holding the iPhone in your hand and typically only have one finger (your thumb) to use it... A tablet, or other large touch screen device, you'll be using your whole hand to grope, massage, and swipe across.

This patent signals to me that it's finally on the way.