After going through Reuters I stumbled through this article. In this article it states that Research In Motion has agreed to hand over user codes that would let Saudi authorities monitor its BlackBerry Messenger. According to the source, RIM would share with Saudi Arabia the unique pin number and code for each BlackBerry registered there. Supposedly this will allow authorities to read encrypted text sent via BBM. Well here is the thing people need to know. BlackBerry Messenger and PIN to PIN messages are NOT encrypted. They are scrambled using a global cryptographic key which EVERY BlackBerry in the world uses. SOOO… This might be a bit confusing to people, including myself. First, a faulty idea involving RIMs servers set up in other countries, now we hear this claim. Clearly, there needs to be a bit more clarification before any action is taken. Ronen from BR is right. These governments are dejected that they cannot view encrypted messages sent to a BlackBerry, but the majority of people do not realize what is actually encrypted. The thing to note is that if you are not on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, little is encrypted. So if you’re using your carriers BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) to receive email on your BlackBerry, that communication is NOT encrypted. Which then means, That the only protection is what your carrier offers by encrypting their wireless traffic using the standard 3G and 2G protocols. If a carrier is tapping the line and giving the government access to sniff the traffic, then they are seeing all of this communication in the clear. Since this information is not encrypted in the first place, RIM has offered this solution. A wire tap, or “lawful interception.” Co-chief executive, Michael Lazaridis, told the Wall Street Journal last week that under court order, will they comply to intercept communications.
“I would give them the encrypted stream,” he said. “It would have to be like a wiretap.”
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We’ll see what route they take. An organization specific encryption key can be used, but there are problems with that so it is rarely done. The only really encrypted information here is the emails shared through the BES, but those BES encryption keys are absolutely out of the question.
The source said RIM would share with Saudi Arabia the unique “pin number” and “code” for each BlackBerry registered there. We’ll see soon as to how this issue will get resolved. Research In Motion declined to comment, but left a statement with the media earlier in which they said it “cooperates with all governments with a consistent standard.”
What do you think? Do you have a better understanding as to what is really encrypted? For a more in depth explanation on the encryption process visit Ronen’s page, it’s great stuff, thanks again Ron! Every BlackBerry user should read what he wrote, it is very helpful, and might save some time and trouble for some negotiators.
FullReuters article here Via Fox Business