BlackBerry Holding on for Dear Life, Launches Secure BBM

BlackBerry would like to remind us that it is still alive. They have jumped on the private messaging bandwagon, launching "secure enterprise-class messaging" within BBM today. The new feature is geared towards corporate users, like banks, governments, law firms and healthcare providers. Remember, even Obama still uses a BlackBerry

BBM Protected offers an encryption key for each end of the messaging, meaning a hacker has a doubly difficult time breaking into the message. When two users use BBM protected, they have to share a secret passcode to authenticate their identities. That generates an encryption code, securing the conversation. 

BlackBerry believes they have created the most secure messaging system available, "BBM Protected is the only secure mobile instant messaging app that uses a FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic library," they said in a statement. "BBM Protected enables employees to use the same app to securely message colleagues inside the company for work as they do to chat and share with family and friends outside the company."

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This is a really awesome feature if you and your friends find yourselves back in 2009 and need to share some time travel secrets amongst yourselves. 

Check out protected messaging in action:

This article was originally published at http://www.thewire.com/technology/2014/06/blackberry-holds-on-for-dear-life-launches-secure-bbm/372889/

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