The problem with the Blackberry isn't the lawyers. That's trifling. The problem is security.

[Renew Deal]

I posted this elsewhere, but I feel it's worthwhile....

If you understand how the Blackberry works, then you understand the problem. The Blackberry is run by a core set of servers that all messages pass through. That core set of servers can get to each and every handheld. That means that there is an unsecured link in the email path that a non-gov't civilian (or a {foreign} spy) can tap into. Here's how it goes.

1. Message is sent to Obama from anyone OR Message is sent by Obama to anyone
2. Message travels to senders mail server
3. Senders mail server sends message to the recipients mail server through the internets
4. Message is passed from recipients mail server to recipients BES server (Blackberry Enterprise Services).
5. Recipients BES server sends message to Blackberry corporate BES servers for routing.
6. Message routed to handheld

The problems in that chain are mostly 4 and 6. You can argue that 3 is a problem also because mail is leaving the network. In a high government scenario, that could be a major problem.

I hope Obama can keep his BB, but it needs to be secure. And not just from lawyers, snoops, and Blackberry employees (RIM), but from other governments spy operations.

Note: If the sender and receiver's mail servers are the same, then step 3 is taken out. The problem still exists because of step 5.

[glowing]

1. So, the man standing next to him on his blackberry dealing with the same shit isn't

liable to the same issues. I would assume if they are speaking about anything that is classified or high risk, then they'd be on secure phones or whatever.. The entire staff has bb, so why can't the president.

[Renew Deal]

3. I'm not saying Obama shouldn't have it.

I think he needs it or something like it. The problem is security at the highest level of government, and at that level, the Blackberry isn't "secure" enough.

[glowing]

7. But they all use one.. Even Laura Bush.. so, I'm assuming if Obama

wants to check out a blog, sports, weather, or a cute e-mail from his wife or daughters, there's something wrong with that. He's done all this campaigning so far on his phone, and I don't know one private thing he's said or done. So, why not take the gov't line and make it a security clearance issue in on select servers... It could be done. The companies would be trying to outbid one another for a govt contract like that. The server storage would remain intact for archival purposes. It can be done.

[Renew Deal]

8. I agree that it can be done.

If they spend enough money, they can do anything they want.

[Odin2005]

2. Surly the Secret Service can rig the thing to make it secure, couldn't they? n/t.

[Renew Deal]

4. Maybe if they can take control of a core Blackberry server.

I bet that's going to cost A LOT of money if RIM would even allow it. Besides that, the messages are still going to have to travel out to the internets. So they'd have to secure the links too.

[spinbaby]

10. Ask them to, and they WILL get surly

;)

[napi21]

5. You obviously understand this much better than I do, but if these

are so insecure, why is it that the current WH claims all those millions of emails they sent to "who knows" are unrecoverable? I understand the system somewhat, and I've always believed that since those emails when through so many different servers, there HAD to be records of them somewhere. What am I missing?

[Renew Deal]

6. The only way they become "unrecoverable" is if they were actively destroyed.

Basically, they are full of shit. It's possible that they are unrecoverable at certain points. If the servers were destroyed, and the backups were destroyed, the messages would still likely be in the client accounts and/or computers. They'd have to go after the clients too, and that's harder to do. But they controlled everything so tight, that the might have actively destroyed the clients (and their backups which may not exist) too.

[Phx_Dem]

9. From what I understand signals from cell phones and Blackberries

can be tracked even if the device is turned off. As long as the battery is in, it can be tracked. If that's the case, Obama needs to let go of his Blackberry. His security is far more important than his desire to be in touch with the people.

[Renew Deal]

11. This is true

But pinpointing Obama's signal is virtually impossible.

[Phx_Dem]

14. Yeah, I figure terrorists probably don't have the technology,

but Putin might.

[Raineyb]

12. Too bad the privacy of the rest of us isn't as valued half as much

But I guess it's okay for the rest of us to be easily tracked (by illegal spying operations)

Regards

[Phx_Dem]

13. We aren't tracked. Most criminals aren't even tracked.

From what I've been told, and they reserve it for the worst criminals and special circumstances because it's very high tech.

If you ever get lost in the mountains with your cell phone, but can't call anyone because there's no reception, don't expect to be rescued by your cell signal. They won't track your cell unless you're someone really important (or a terorrist).

On the other hand, if you're ever on the lam from the Feds, be sure to take the battery out of your phone because they will track you if they want you.

[Renew Deal]

15. There's nothing easy about this.

But it's no stretch to believe that another government could pull this off.