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.

The following screenshot shows an example of a BlackBerry Browser dialog box that does not clearly indicate that there is a mismatch between the web server address and its associated certificate:

RIM says that you can resolve this vulnerability by updating your BlackBerry OS and they have released said updates to carriers.  The Only problem is that most carriers have not officially released these new OS updates.  In the mean time, just be weary sites where the above dialog box pops up…

[Via CIO]

Most RIM Devices Suffer From BlackBerry Browser Bug is a post from: RIMarkable

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.

Research Reports Q2 Fiscal 2010 Results is a post from: RIMarkable

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]

Looks Like The BlackBerry Curve 8520 Is Just About Ready To Launch On Rogers is a post from: RIMarkable

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.

Research In Motion Is The Fastest Growing Company In The World is a post from: RIMarkable

The BlackBerry.com website has recently been redesigned.  I really like the new header.

BlackBerry.com Gets A Fresh Coat Of Paint is a post from: RIMarkable

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]

RIM Confirms That Etisalat BlackBerry Update Was Indeed SpyWare is a post from: RIMarkable

We are not quite sure when or how much it will cost, however, according to Cellular South’s Facebook page, they will carry the BlackBerry Tour 9630.

BlackBerry Tour Coming To Cellular South is a post from: RIMarkable

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.

BlackBerry Storm: Better Than A Lot Of People Think is a post from: RIMarkable

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]

Verzion Blackberry Pearl Flip Now Available For $79.99 is a post from: RIMarkable

Research in Motion posted first quarter results for fiscal year 2010 yesterday and, for only the second time in its history, the BlackBerry maker saw a decline in subscriber growth dropping to 3.8 million net new subscribers down from 3.9 million the previous quarter.  The rest of RIMs numbers were pretty good and the BlackBerry actually saw on overall increase in its U.S. leading market share.

“We are starting fiscal 2010 with strong financial performance and impressive market share gains, including a 55% share of the U.S. smartphone market according to IDC’s latest estimate,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at RIM. “The industry leading BlackBerry product portfolio is driving strong customer demand around the world and our penetration of new market segments continues to expand. We are particularly excited about the strength of our product portfolio for fiscal 2010 and we are looking forward to driving continued growth and profitability in our business throughout the remainder of the year.”

That may all well and good, however, the market is mostly reacting to RIM’s drop in subscriber growth and concerns that the BlackBerry is seeing increased pressure in the space from competitors such as the iPhone, Google Android devices, and the Palm Pre.  RIM’s stock price has fallen  0.67 down to $76.04 in after hours trading.

It will be really interesting to see if RIM makes a comeback this quarter while having to compete with the new iPhone 3G S, a $99 iPhone 3G, and a Palm Pre that is getting rave reviews.  RIM has released or is about to release more BlackBerry devices on more carriers at the same time than at any point in its history and I am guessing that it will be a pretty interesting summer in the smartphone market…

RIM Sees Drop In BlackBerry Subscriber Growth For Second Time In Its History is a post from: RIMarkable