Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone?...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that...

Vodafone to launch secure SMS

Link: Vodafone to Offer Encrypted SMS’s to Businesses

Vodafone UK has signed a reseller agreement with Broca, to provide a secure SMS messaging service. Broca’s flagship service, SAMS, is a patented technology which encrypts and protects traditional SMS messages.

 Under the terms of the agreement, Vodafone will integrate SAMS into the messaging portfolio sold by its ‘Target’ sales division. As a value added messaging product SAMS will be used for secure messaging and data capture for corporate customers.

Interesting. Wonder how it works? I assume there’s a client application on the recipients handset that decrypts the message – or perhaps it works via a WAP push that directs the recipient to a secure website? Either way, it’s a step in the right direction for improving the security of SMS – an essential requirement if we’re going to see more use of messaging in the banking and financial sectors.

8 COMMENTS

  1. To answer your question, Alex, I can confirm that it is the former. A small Java applet on the phone powers SAMS and, in most applications of the technology, a message will be unencrypted when the receiving party enters their PIN on the handset. This means that only the intended recipient can see the message. We believe that this level of encryption – both on the handset and over the air – is unique. It based upon the company’s patented key cycling protocol.

  2. Hi Ian,

    I’ve got a question about the “patented key cycling protocol” – what is it?

    Is proprietary security ever safe? If nobody else has checked it, we just have to take your word for it that it won’t have any vulnerabilities – patented or not.

    Why does it not use publicly tested and trusted security like RSA, RC4, AES, like websites use and international standards bodies recommend for financial systems? (or maybe it does, I would be happy to be corrected)

  3. how long is the pin? does the entire encryption depend on this single number? a 4 digit pin on average takes 5000 attempts to crack – not exactly a challenge for a brute force attack, though of course your patent might protect against that or might not (see post above)

  4. This solution is unbelievably shoddy, Broca should definitely use standardised security which reads ‘non-proprietary’. Quite ridiculous that a large company like Vodafone fell for that.
    As Samuel is saying, any of the named securitiy options should have been used. I am sure that Broca will be an easy feast for hackers worldwide.
    What is a key cycling protocol anyway?

  5. Hi,

    I have developed a mobile application for sending and receiving secure (encrypted) sms from midlet last year. Just wanted to inform if I can help your organisation in this front.

    Please reply on email. contact no. is +91-9422772402

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Recently Published

Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an HP LaserJet printer (version 3, if memory serves), I have been printing with an HP. Over the...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone? I'm asking because I'm thinking about what I should be doing. When I was living in Oman, I...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that next to nothing from Mobile World Congress would break through into the mainstream media. I was right,...

How Wireless Will Pave the Path to Neobank Profitability

I'm delighted to bring you an opinion piece from Rafa Plantier at Gigs.com. I think it's particularly relevant given the recent eSIM news from...

An end of an era: Vodafone UK turns off 3G services

I thought it was worthwhile highlighting this one from the Vodafone UK team. For so long - for what feels like years, seeing the...

Mobile World Congress: Did the mainstream media notice?

I resolved this year to make sure I wrote something - anything - about Mobile World Congress, the huge mobile industry trade show taking...