SecureGSM for, um, secure GSM cellphone calls
By Peter Rojas 
posted May 31st 2005 2:06PM
posted May 31st 2005 2:06PM
Anyone touting "unbreakable" encryption is just asking to be shown up, but an Australian company by the name of
SecureGSM is offering a new app for Windows Mobile-powered Smartphones and Pocket PC Phones that uses 256 bit
encryption to protect your calls from electronic eavesdroppers. All that privacy better be worth it: they're charging
AU$249 per user license.
[Thanks, Mike]
... which is $28,230 US.
holly crap
"Anyone touting “unbreakable” encryption is just asking to be shown up...". You have GOT to be kidding. You are joking, right? If so, I'm afraid I just don't get it. There is a plethora of imminently UNBREAKABLE encryption schemes out there, so strong that the combined computng potential of the ENTIRE UNIVERSE, working effectively FOREVER, couldn't break it.
Who writes your copy?
Umm, did I say "imminent"? I meant emminent, pardon me. :-)
In reality it would be
$188.08 US Dollars
You're totally missing my point: experts like Bruce Schneier have made a small industry out of debunking crypto companies that claim to have unbreakable encryption but don't really deliver on their promises. I wasn't making a point about encryption generally.
http://www.securius.com/newsletters/Snake_Oil_Encryption.html
There is only one unbreakable encryption algorithm. The one time pad. All other crypto systems can be broken given enough time and computing resources. That said, you are correct in that there are many crypto systems that are effectively unbreakable for the time being. 256 bit AES is well trusted but anyone claiming that it is unbreakable is either lying or uninformed.
It's important to remember that a flaw could be found in AES (or any other system aside from a one time pad) tomorrow that makes cracking any key length trivial.
Zounds! Foiled again! /vader_scream "noooooooooooo!"
But seriously J, I'm obviously no expert, but when yo talk about flaws, do you mean in design or implementation? If it's implementation, obviously it's trivial to fix. If it's a design issue then, at least as often as not, a "simple" rearchitecturing would fix the problem. The only thing, AFAIK, that's gong to break the strongest schemes out there, short of an implementation problem, is quantum computing. By then, of course, quantum cryptography will "restore balance to the force".
Sorry folks, but there is nothing new here. General Dynamics has been selling a secure GSM phone to the government and it's contractors for many years. They have Type 1 certified versions for NSA (National Security Agency) approved use and AES versions for commercial use. I've seen Generals drool over this thing. It's THAT secure.
http://www.gdc4s.com/content/detail.cfm?item=97aef0a4-96e4-4ab2-b33b-eb832c4bb4c2
Re: #8
The concept of secure communication is not new. But keep in mind that the product you're linking to is completely hardware-based. What SecureGSM is offering is a software-based solution which can be installed on any Windows Mobile Phone device.
Dear sir/madam
Hello...
I visited your website today and I interested to buy Handphone from you..?I have some question for you...?
First do you accept creditcard data for payment..?and than can you send this item to Netherland..?If this OK with you I would to buy
Please advise me as soon as posible...Thanks
Best Regards
It is great to see that the PDA windows mobile community, which we consider ourselves part of, is taking the time to discuss our product.
I would like to mention that "UNBREAKABLE" encryption should be probably understood as " unbreakable per modern crypto analysis techniques". UNBREAKABLE FOR THE TIME BEING - this is a very true statement. I would agree with that 100%. I would say that, going by current crypto analysis techniques we envisage that the triple cipher encryption we have used is "unbreakable for at least 30-50 years".
I would like to mention also that the weakest point of any crypto implementation would be the strength of the Random Number Generator used for generating entropy. The length of DH (Diffie-Hellman) key is also of serious importance.
Of course, if some specific logarithmic functions, which all modern cryptos are based on, will be defeated in the future, then ALL modern cryptos become easily "BREAKABLE" so to speak. Elliptic curves are a little bit different, but opinions exist that elliptic curves could be logarithmically described as well. If that is the case, then.... Oh, dear :) We've done a very good job though, I suppose, providing quite comprehensive protection against possible design errors in implementation of any of the 3 ciphers we have used in our product. We use all 3 at the same time to make sure that if one of them is defeated, then other 2 are still there to protect your data. Price is US$195.00 - this obviously looks much better than the US$2000.00 - US$3000.00 for dedicated devices and you still have all functionality of your PDA Phone untouched.
A FREE VERSION will be available as well for those who are still unsure or would like to evaluate the product.
Best regards,
Alexander Moloksher
SecureGSM
info@securegsm.com