UK now has Encryption software for cell phones available

[Fire14]

Encrypting Cellphone Calls

A new piece of encryption software has been released which will protect conversations over mobile phones. The vendor is citing the recent UK media fuss over tabliod journalists "hacking" into phones belonging to MPs and members of the Royal Family. However as those hacks involved listening into voicemails that still had the default security settings, it is not clear how encrypting voice calls would have prevented this.

The software, Babylon nG uses the GPRS capabilities of mobile phones to provide a secure channel for voice communication. The encryption changes every time a call is made and each handset has its own unique encryption key. When the encryption is not required, the handset maintains all the usual functions of a mobile phone, whether encryption is used or not.

Joe Francis of One Day Mobile says: "Babylon nG uses 256K bit technology with a 124K bit key to give several layers of encryption. With online banking services, for example, encrypted using 128K, it shows how secure the system is.

"The encryption, which has been rigorously tested by the military, changes every time a call is made and each handset has its own unique encryption key. When two of these telephones communicate it really is impossible for someone to unlock the signal. An encrypted message service is also available.

"Where Babylon nG really scores is that the option to use the encryption or not means that the mobile phone does not have a limited use and maintains all the functions of the handset. It is cost-effective to use GPRS as the calls are subject to networks' data transfer plans."


www.cellular-news.com/story/18820.php

I wonder when we will get this in the US and is it going to cost extra?

And just think, another added bonus for terrorists.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by rwsrichard

I wonder when we will get this in the US and is it going to cost extra?

And just think, another added bonus for terrorists.

Since it uses GPRS, I can see it costing extra for the software & usage.

I was thinking the same thing, terrorist's are going to want to use this. Unless they decided to make it for certain Govt. agencies, which by the article it doesn't sound like they will.

Originally Posted by Fire14

Since it uses GPRS, I can see it costing extra for the software & usage.

I was thinking the same thing, terrorist's are going to want to use this. Unless they decided to make it for certain Govt. agencies, which by the article it doesn't sound like they will.

Another thing to worry about, I guess. Hope they provide the Gov with some way to break it or trace it, just in case.

[Jay2TheRescue]

I think the Gov't will try to hold the software's release in the US until they are given a universal passkey to decode it. I think they tried to do that with PGP, but so many people downloaded it off the net that they couldn't stop it.

-Jay