Crypto phone

As encrypted mobile phones tap-proof mobile phones are known.

Functionality

When the user activates the corresponding mode, its call data encrypted by the phone before transmission. Thus, the so selected connection works, the other party of the phone call, however, must likewise have a crypto phone, which performs decryption.

The best known device of this type is the TopSec GSM, a development of the Siemens S35i, which is marketed since 2001 by Rohde & Schwarz and was developed in collaboration with Siemens. Instead of the usual the phone with a cell phone voice transmission, the information in this unit shall be transmitted by data transmission via GSM.

Alternatives

Instead of a hardware solution, it is possible in many modern mobile devices to achieve a corresponding encryption by means of suitable software. Such variants may to a lesser extent model-specific and thus be cheaper.

Mobile phones of the German Federal Government

When Chancellor phone, even Merkel Phone, the phone model is colloquially referred to, which is used by members of the German Federal Government and its employees for security-sensitive communication.

Previously available to members of the government based HTC smartphones SiMKo models 1 and 2 SiMKo, developed by the Deutsche Telekom subsidiary T-Systems, are available. The devices can however only encrypt traffic. To call a second encryption device is needed, therefore, always, where use is made of mobile phones by Nokia with Symbian ^ 3 operating system; these can encrypt conversations, but again no traffic. This condition is regarded by the users as unsatisfactory since the devices are described as impractical and slow. For this reason, many government members use at work is a personal device, although this is by administrative regulation ( classified statement) is strictly prohibited.

Remedy should therefore create the following two models in 2014:

• The SiMKo 3 based on a Samsung Galaxy S3 and
• A BlackBerry Z10, which was expanded to safety from the Düsseldorf company Secusmart.

Both models have been tested already by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and classified as bug-proof; yet they are only for the dissemination of safety information to the lowest level of secrecy, classified - only for internal use, released.

While the model of Secusmart comes an unmodified BlackBerry 10 operating system is used, its own operating system for the official communication was developed for the SiMKo 3. The SiMKo 3 was criticized in an official test, among other things because of a smaller working memory and lack of photo, WLAN and Bluetooth functionality. According to a spokesman of the Telekom official and private communication in SiMKo 3 are strictly separated, while it is merely " a device for consumers with an extra level of security " at Secusmart. Both devices are available only from 2014 with full functionality is available.

Controversy sparked as a result of monitoring and spying affair of 2013 the spying a mobile phone of Chancellor Merkel. In the affected cell phone is a previous model of the Finnish manufacturer Nokia, which was placed her in the course of their work as CDU chairman of the party ready and no encryption techniques ready made ​​. The Federal Government has been no protocols or technical evidence. The BSI and the BND have only circumstantial evidence that a " compressed suspicion" justified.