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Blackphone

store.blackphone.ch

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Re: Blackphone

#51

Post by maxerickson »

Nrsolis wrote: post #34
Joeboy wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I hate to break it to you, but this is not going to keep you safe from a state-level adversary. I don't really like this kind of anti-crypto argument. At this point I think making normal communications between normal people less embarrassingly mass-snoopable is a very worthy goal. For the time being, people who really, really have something to hide need to be extra careful (as has always been the case). Which is no…

It's not anti-crypto. It's PRO-tradecraft. Introducing technology into a system can WEAKEN your security. Knowing that is almost 90% of the battle.

If you put * on both sides of some text, you get polite emphasis.

Re: Blackphone

#52

Post by davexunit »

byoogle wrote: post #13
davexunit wrote: post #11

A prerequisite for security is free software. Critical applications like the Silent Circle ones are proprietary, afaict. I have zero trust in the Blackphone and would not purchase one.

This Verge article [1] says “The company will open source the vast majority of its code for the phone in order for third parties to properly audit its techniques, find holes, and ultimately help to improve the product.” 1. http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/24/5441642/blackphone-silent-...

That would be nice if they liberated some of the code. However, "vast majority" is another way of saying that the phone runs proprietary software. I think Replicant is still the only Android distribution that has the ability to provide any sort of real security to its users.

Re: Blackphone

#53

Post by rjzzleep »

Nrsolis wrote: post #32
rjzzleep wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> When I need to communicate secretly I BUY SOMEONE A BEER. Hi Richard, it has come to our attention that you have been secretively discussing leaking government information to our enemy in a pub in central London. What's that you say? You didn't discuss private information? Then why did you try to conceal your handwriting on the napkin from our CCTV security cameras? We'd like to take you in for questioning. If you…

The Soviets used to have a custom of taking long walks in the park when they wanted to have a private conversation. It had the notable benefit of avoiding the hidden listening devices in their places of work/rest/play.

yes, and while that's all good the scenario is quite different. they were protecting from an external threat.

we're protecting from an internal one. the moment you go out the door, we're in the public. law enforcement doesn't really need an excuse to follow you around while you are in public.

on the other hand imho you can safely assume that all crypto will eventually be broken. the question is when, and will your adversaries still care at that point. not quite the same, but still kinda related: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venona_project

Re: Blackphone

#54

Post by etiam »

From an interview I read a while ago I got the impression that Blackphone wouldn't claim to protect from state-level adversaries, and maybe if you were to ask them to be explicit about it they really don't. One could easily come away with another impression from the description here though.

That's a shame, since protection from state level adversaries is really what's at the top of my feature wish list, and that probably goes for a fair amount of other people too, in this day and age.

Is anyone here aware of cell-phone-like projects that have potential to resist exploitation of the type we've seen reported from Five Eyes? I'd be particularly curious about ways to mitigate the location tracking.

Re: Blackphone

#55

Post by oceanstone »

Nrsolis wrote: post #32
rjzzleep wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> When I need to communicate secretly I BUY SOMEONE A BEER. Hi Richard, it has come to our attention that you have been secretively discussing leaking government information to our enemy in a pub in central London. What's that you say? You didn't discuss private information? Then why did you try to conceal your handwriting on the napkin from our CCTV security cameras? We'd like to take you in for questioning. If you…

The Soviets used to have a custom of taking long walks in the park when they wanted to have a private conversation. It had the notable benefit of avoiding the hidden listening devices in their places of work/rest/play.

Great point. While you still could be spied on, for instance with a bug stuck onto your back or classified nano-drone (if it exists yet)... that would be extremely expensive. If they wanted you that bad, it's like, fine. Listen to me talk about my motorcycle.

The issue with computers is they are so, so, so cost effective to tap & data mine. And storage just keeps getting cheaper. Hence, illegal mass surveillance.

Also, I had to make a meme: http://i.imgur.com/bk16CyB.jpg

Re: Blackphone

#56

Post by cpenner461 »

colinbartlett wrote: post #3

It's a bit disconcerting to see that it comes with software "enabled for at least 2 years of usage".

Yeah I wondered the same thing. Needs some clarification - it reads to me like "we plan to be in business for at least 2 years, during which time your phone will work", but leaves me wondering how useful the phone would be if they went out of business.

Re: Blackphone

#57

Post by brown9-2 »

higherpurpose wrote: post #24
jebus989 wrote: post #4

Transparently marketing fear. Apparently this phone is for you if you ever [0]: > speak personally with a partner > worry about your kids Shameful. [0] https://www.blackphone.ch/individuals/

I think most people need some fear about state spying. Most are still treating it like it's no big deal. It's like the Stasi are here and no one gives a damn. That should scare people. Maybe we're deeper into Huxley's world than we thought.

Or perhaps people are treating it like a big deal because it turns out that the Stasi actually isn't here.

Re: Blackphone

#58

Post by [deleted] »

nfoz wrote: post #37
Nrsolis wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. It's UNDERSTAND YOUR ADVERSARY. If I'm trying to protect myself from hackers, I choose one route. From my ISP, another. From FB/Google, another. And from my government or your government, yet another. What's missing here is honest dialogue about the limits of the technology. The best technology has yet to save people from their own foolishness.

We really need to rewrite the entire stack, carefully and with the intent of security, from open-source-DIY hardware up, to have any trust in technology.

[deleted]

Re: Blackphone

#59

Post by riquito »

Nrsolis wrote: post #16
electrichead wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very curious, how did you discover that his name was Richard? Edit: nm, I should have just googled it :)

Uh HUH. Assuming Twitter has my real name that is. LOL.

If you sign as Foo and people address you as Foo I wouldn't say that you fooled them.

Re: Blackphone

#60

Post by whyme »

Sadly, we live in a world where it's quite possible that phones like these are nothing more than a ploy to lure NSA targets in. They need to get people, who have something to hide, to feel safe again.
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