Skip to main content

Sony pulled out its ancient BlackBerry phones to get work done during hack

blackberry classic hands on 1
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Sony made it through a massive hack this December and ended 2014 on a high note, as The Interview earned the company $15 million in online sales over the holiday weekend. Now that the company is in the clear, new details about how Sony coped during the assault on its servers and email system have emerged. It turns out that Sony dusted off its old BlackBerry phones to handle internal email and communications securely, the Wall Street Journal revealed.

Prior to digging the BlackBerry phones out of storage boxes, Sony used notepads, Gmail, and other unsecured phones to communicate. The BlackBerry phones proved to be one of the few secure channels Sony could use at the time because BlackBerrys operate on their own secure server. Each user’s data is encrypted and secured on their BlackBerry device. Meanwhile, BlackBerry’s own servers work to secure the data for its clients.

BlackBerry’s CEO John Chen was quick to tout the security of his company’s systems, though he declined to say whether Sony could have avoided the hack had it remained a BlackBerry client.

“It’s proven that BlackBerry devices and the server are a lot more secure than any other solutions out there commercially available,” Chen told CNBC in mid-December.

BlackBerry’s security remains its biggest selling point, as the company’s global smartphone market share dropped to less than 1 percent in recent years. Most recently, BlackBerry has worked to expand its enterprise business, while cooking up classic QWERTY keyboard phones for the BlackBerry faithful.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Malarie Gokey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
BlackBerry Key2 LE: Everything you need to know
The BlackBerry Key2 LE is back home at Verizon, but only for business types
BlackBerry Key2 LE Hands On

The BlackBerry Key LE is a lower-cost version of the Key2, doing away with some of the more high-tech features seen on the expensive sister phone, and cutting costs by using different materials for the body, to create a more affordable but still distinctly BlackBerry smartphone.

You can check out our Key2 LE review to learn more about what it's like to live with the phone, but in the meantime, here are all the technical specs, details, and availability options.
Updates
The BlackBerry Key2 LE is available to buy at Verizon, but only to business and enterprise customers, according to reports. Verizon's selling the Key2 LE for $450 without a contract, or for $100 if you sign up for a two-year plan. The phone does not show up on Verizon's non-business store, so there does not seem to be the option to buy the phone for this price without a business plan.

Read more
Best Verizon new customer deals: Galaxy S24, iPhone and more
Verizon logo on a smartphone screen in a dark room and a finger touching it.

If you’re in the market for one of the best phones, or any new phone for that matter, you’re going to need a good carrier. Verizon has long been one of the most popular options, as it boasts one of the most reliable networks in the United States. It offers some of the best cell phone plans out there, and for new customers Verizon also offers some pretty impressive discounts on new phones. In many cases this means you can brand new, recently released phones entirely for free when signing up with Verizon. And that’s the case right now, as we’re currently seeing some of the best Verizon new customer deals we’ve seen. You can pretty easily land a new iPhone, Samsung Galaxy phone, and Google Pixel for free, and we’ve got all of the details on how to do so. If that sounds enticing, read onward and start shopping the best Verizon new customer deals available right now.
Free iPhone SE (3rd Gen)

The 2022 release of the Apple iPhone SE is yours for free when you sign up for a new 5G data plan on Verizon -- no trade-ins required. It's the best small smartphone in our list of the best smartphones with a 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display, but it doesn't sacrifice performance as it's powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip that's also found in the iPhone 13 line and pre-installed with iOS 15. The latest iPhone SE is equipped with a single 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera, which are boosted by Apple's software to enable better photographs.

Read more
AirTags range: here’s how far the tracker can reach
An AirTag attached on a keyring

Apple AirTags are a helpful tool for tracking valuable possessions like wallets, keys, luggage, and backpacks. These tags employ various technologies that allow you to track your items from short and long distances using your compatible Apple device, such as an iPhone 15 Plus. You might wonder how far you can track your items with AirTags. It's time to find out.
AirTags range, explained

The range of AirTags varies depending on the method you use to locate them. A Bluetooth connection will work when your AirTags are close to your supported Apple device. Otherwise, Apple's Find My network is utilized. Luckily, you don't have to choose the method because it's selected behind the scenes automatically.

Read more