by Robb Dunewood on September 30, 2009 · 0 comments
Research in Motion posted a knowledge base article yesterday that details a BlackBerry Browser bug that makes many BlackBerry devices vulnerable to phishing attacks. The bug seems to be because of the way that the BlackBerry browser handles server certificates with null characters.
BlackBerry Browser dialog box does not clearly indicate mismatches between web site domain names and associated certificates
From RIM’s Knowledge Base:
Problem
A malicious user could create a web site that includes a certificate that is purposely altered using null (hidden) characters in the certificate’s Common Name (CN) field or otherwise manipulated to deceive a BlackBerry device user into believing they have connected to a trusted web site.
If the malicious user then performs a phishing-style attack by sending the BlackBerry device user a link to the web site in an SMS or email message that appears to be from a trusted source, and the BlackBerry device user chooses to access that site, the BlackBerry Browser will correctly detect the mismatch between the certificate and the domain name and display a dialog box that prompts the user to close the connection. However, the dialog box does not display null characters, so the user may believe they are connecting to a trusted site and disregard the recommended action to close the connection.
[click to continue…]
by Robb Dunewood on September 25, 2009 · 4 comments
Research in Motion reported 2nd quarter fiscal 2010 results yesterday after the close of business. Revenue was $3.53 billion, up 3% from $3.42 billion in the previous quarter and up 37% from $2.58 billion in the same quarter of last year and RIM shipped about 8.3 million devices.
Research in Motion co-CEO, Jim Ballsillie said ,”We are pleased to report a strong second quarter with excellent financial performance, successful product launches and accelerating growth in international markets and new market segments“.
Ballsillie also said that that earnings fell about 4% and RIM’s stock price (ticker RIMM) had been spiraling downward in after hours trading ever since. Analysts have, pretty much downgraded the stock across the board. At the time of this posting RIM’s stock price is down over 9 bucks at $73.73. It closed yesterday at $83.06.
by Robb Dunewood on September 17, 2009 · 0 comments
When carrier promotional materials start showing up for upcoming BlackBerry devices it is usually a telltale sign that the launch of the device is just around the corner. That being said, promotional materials for the Rogers BlackBerry Curve 8520 have started to show up in Rogers retail outlets.
[Via BlackBerry Cool]
Believe it or not Research in Motion, that little smartphone manufacturer based in Waterloo, Ontario, which makes that little known device, the BlackBerry, is the fastest growing company in the world according to Fortune’s 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list.
by Robb Dunewood on July 22, 2009 · 1 comment
The BlackBerry.com website has recently been redesigned. I really like the new header.
Last week UAE-based telecom firm Etisalat pushed out an update to its 145,000 BlackBerry users claiming that it would improve performance. It turns out, however, that the “performance update” actually was a telecommunications surveillance application produced by the U.S. based firm SS8, which describes itself as a provider of “lawful electronic intercept and surveillance solutions“.
Research in Motion put out a statement saying that the update was not authorized, developed, or tested by RIM.
Etisalat appears to have distributed a telecommunications surveillance application… independent sources have concluded that it is possible that the installed software could then enable unauthorised access to private or confidential information stored on the user’s smartphone.
RIM has also created a Registration App Remover the will remove the Etisalat update. You can get more information about it here.
[Source]
by Robb Dunewood on July 17, 2009 · 1 comment
When the BlackBerry Storm first made its debut last fall it got, deservedly so, an awful lot of bad press. The OS that shipped completely didn’t work and the first official update was barely tolerable. Since, however, the latest official update for the BlackBerry Storm was released, we really haven’t heard much bad news about the BlackBerry Storm.
Sure, you will find a vocal few who will tell you how bad the Storm still is and how it can’t compete with the iPhone, but, if you can get used to the keyboard, the Storm really isn’t all that bad a device.
In Consumer Reports latest smartphone survey, the iPhone 3Gs came out on top with a rating of 73 out of a possible 100 points. With all of the bad press that the Storm has received you may have thought that it would have been trounced by the iPhone, however, it had a respectable showing with respect to the iPhone with a total of 69 points.
There are still a lot of improvements that can be made to the BlackBerry Storm and we hope that we see them soon once BlackBerry OS 5 for the Storm comes out, however, the BlackBerry Storm right now, with OS 4.7.0.148, may be a better than a lot of people think.
As previoulsly announced, the Verizon BlackBerry Pearl Flip was launched today. You can one up for $79.99 after a $70 online rebate after signing up to a 2-year service plan.
[Source]
