New Blackphone aims to quash surveillance threat

[Acidripp]

Developed by security experts including those from Silent Circle, the Android-powered Blackphone is designed to make snooping far more difficult.

A new Android-powered smartphone soon to be launched will put privacy and control directly in the hands of its users.

On Wednesday, Silent Circle and Geeksphone announced the formation of a new Switzerland-based joint venture and its first surveillance-thwarting product, the Blackphone.

Powered by a security-oriented Android build named PrivatOS, Blackphone is touted as a carrier and vendor-independent smartphone that will allow consumers and businesses to make and receive secure phone calls, exchange secure texts, transfer and store files, and video chat without compromising privacy on the device.

The smartphone is the brainchild of security and technology specialists including Phil Zimmermann, creator of PGP; Javier Aguera, co-founder of Geeksphone; Jon Callas, co-founder of PGP Inc. and CTO of Silent Circle; Rodrigo Silva-Ramos, co-founder of Geeksphone; and Mike Janke, CEO of Silent Circle and former U.S. Navy SEAL.

"I have spent my whole career working towards the launch of secure telephony products,"

said Zimmermann.

"Blackphone provides users with everything they need to ensure privacy and control of their communications, along with all the other high-end smartphone features they have come to expect."

Blackphone will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona, Spain, and preorders will be taken at the end of February. There are no current details available on the gadget's price.

Geeksphone is a Madrid-based firm that develops and promotes open source mobile solution. Washington, D.C.-based Silent Circle is a global encrypted communications service well-known for providing secure e-mail service Silent Mail, before the founders chose to shutter the service in light of US agency spying revelations.

Sursa: New Blackphone aims to quash surveillance threat | Security & Privacy - CNET News

Blackphone is the world's first smartphone which prioritizes the user's privacy and control, without any hooks to carriers or vendors. It comes preinstalled with all the tools you need to move throughout the world, conduct business, and stay in touch, while shielding you from prying eyes.

It's the trustworthy precaution any connected worker should take, whether you're talking to your family or exchanging notes on your latest merger & acquisition.

Blackphone is unlocked and works with any GSM carrier. Performance benchmarks put it among the top performers from any manufacturer.

It has the features necessary to do all the things you need, as well as all the things you want, while maintaining your privacy and security and giving you the freedom to choose your carrier, your apps, and your location.

The tools installed on Blackphone give you everything you need to take ownership of your mobile presence and digital footprints, and ensure nobody else can watch you without your knowledge.

You can make and receive secure phone calls; exchange secure texts; exchange and store secure files; have secure video chat; browse privately; and anonymize your activity through a VPN.

Sursa: https://www.blackphone.ch/

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