Crypto cell phone

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As crypto phones are tap-proof mobile phones called.

Functionality

If the user activates the appropriate mode, his call data is encrypted by the phone before transmission. In order for the connection type selected in this way to work, the other participant in the call must, however, also have a crypto-cell phone, which is responsible for the decryption.

The best-known device of this type is the TopSec GSM , a further development of the Siemens S35i , which has been sold by Rohde & Schwarz since 2001 and was developed in cooperation with Siemens . Instead of the usual voice transmission when making calls with a cell phone, the information on this device is transmitted using data transmission via GSM .

Alternatives

Instead of a hardware solution, it is possible with many modern mobile devices to achieve appropriate encryption using suitable software. Such variants can be model-specific to a lesser extent and therefore cheaper.

Mobile phones of the German federal government

The Chancellor Cellphone , also known as Merkelphone , is the colloquial term for the cellphone model that is used by the members of the German government and their employees for security-sensitive communication.

So far, the members of the government have the models SiMKo 1 and SiMKo 2 based on HTC smartphones , developed by the Telekom subsidiary T-Systems . The devices can only encrypt data traffic. A second device is therefore always required to encrypt calls, using Nokia cell phones with a Symbian ^ 3 operating system; these can encrypt calls, but in turn no data traffic. This state is viewed as unsatisfactory by users, especially since the devices are described as impractical and slow. For this reason, many members of the government also use a private device in the workplace, although this is expressly prohibited by administrative regulation ( classified instructions ).

The following two models should therefore provide a remedy from 2014:

Both models have been tested by the Federal Office for Information Security and classified as tap-proof; however, they are only approved for the transfer of security-relevant information of the lowest level of confidentiality - only approved for official use.

While a Blackberry 10 operating system is used in the Secusmart model , which has expanded hardware with a smartcard and retains the basic BlackBerry operating system, a separate operating system for business communication was developed for the SiMKo 3. The SiMKo 3 was criticized in an official test, among other things, because of a smaller working memory and a lack of photo, WLAN and Bluetooth functionality. According to a spokesman for Telekom, business and private communication are strictly separated with the SiMKo 3, while the Secusmart is only “a device for consumers with an additional security level”. Both devices were only available with full functionality from 2014. In October 2014, Deutsche Telekom confirmed that the development of the SiMKo 3 had been discontinued.

The spying on a mobile phone of Chancellor Merkel sparked controversy as a result of the surveillance and espionage affair in 2013 . The cell phone concerned is a predecessor model from the Finnish manufacturer Nokia , which was provided to her by the party as part of her work as CDU chairman and did not provide any encryption technology. The federal government has not yet received any protocols or technical evidence. The BSI and the BND only have evidence that justifies a “condensed suspicion”.

safety

Some professionals consider the current crypto cell phones unsafe. Shortly after its publication, a possible back door was found in the random number generator of the Blackberry, through which the data can be tapped before it is encrypted. The back door was also registered for a patent in 2006 by Certicom, which was taken over by Blackberry.

In connection with the wiretapping affair, Edward Snowden recommends using more free software such as Signal (formerly TextSecure and RedPhone ).

Web links

Wiktionary: Kryptohandy  - explanations of meanings, word origins , synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. heise.de: Cell phone encrypts calls at the push of a button
  2. Security-Insider.de: Software instead of hardware: encryption for smartphones
  3. a b Stefan Tomik: You shouldn't have a cell phone next to me. faz.net, October 24, 2013, accessed October 24, 2013 .
  4. Economics minister prefers to use iPhone instead of "Secusmart" and "SiMKo 3". heise.de, July 5, 2013, accessed October 24, 2013 .
  5. Chancellor smartphone: Merkel gets a new cell phone. chip.de, April 3, 2013, accessed October 24, 2013 .
  6. wiretapping attacks on party cell phones: SecuSUITE for BlackBerry 10 remains secure. Secusmart press release of October 24, 2013. Accessed on August 30, 2016 (PDF; 87 kB).
  7. Telekom's new "Chancellor cell phone" is considered bug-proof. t-online.de, September 10, 2013, accessed October 24, 2013 .
  8. https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/BlackBerry-kauf-Secusmart-2277703.html
  9. SiMKO 3: Merkelphone supposedly not suitable for Merkel. heise.de, October 6, 2013, accessed on October 24, 2013 .
  10. The high price of security, Telekom stops development of chancellor cell phones. sz.de, October 8, 2014, accessed July 7, 2016 .
  11. Merkel's cell phone number in Snowden's documents , Welt Online from October 24, 2013
  12. http://www.golem.de/news/secusmart-blackberry-krypto-handys-mit-vielen-fragezeichen-1407-108237.html
  13. Edward Snowden: Edward Snowden on Twitter ( s October 13), 2015. Accessed November 15, 2015.
  14. http://www.t-online.de/handy/smartphone/id_68428170/edward-snowden-empfickt-apps-zur-verschluesselung.html