“Russian government officials have swapped their iPads for Samsung tablets to ensure tighter security, the telecoms minister told news agencies on Wednesday,” AFP reports. “Journalists spotted that ministers at a cabinet meeting were no longer using Apple tablets, and minister Nikolai Nikiforov confirmed the changeover ‘took place not so long ago.’ “He said the ministers’ new Samsungs were ‘specially protected devices that can be used to work with confidential information.'”
“Nikiforov denied that Russia was clamping down on US technology in response to Western sanctions imposed over its takeover of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula. ‘We are not proposing any sanctions,’ he said,” AFP reports. “But he did mention reading reports that ‘American special services… will significantly increase the volume of information they intercept (which) of course causes serious concern to many governmental clients.’ He added that South Korean firms such as Samsung, along with Chinese ones, could be interesting to Russia in this respect.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take:
The formula ‘Two and two make five’ is not without its attractions. — Fyodor Dostoyevsky
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “botvinnik” for the heads up.]
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Yet another sign that Putin has completely lost it.
It is not Putin this time (he is not into personal electronics), it is ignorant pseudo patriots.
The irony of this stupid move is that Samsung’s devices have USA’s operating system anyway, so I am not sure what is the point (there is none, cheap “patriotic” PR not unlike renaming “French Fries” ten years ago).
Not lost it all. He has set his sights next on the Korean peninsula!
Not true. Russia will decompile and treat all of Android as if it were open source. Then they will build a more secure OS out of that. They are not choosing Android the Google OS; They are choosing to go at it alone so nobody can hack it without facing a firing squad.
“There are four lights!” – Captain Jean Luc Picard
Awesome
Good news. Now the NSA can explore the tablets of all the Russian officials with ease.
Exactly: just couple of weeks ago Samsung Galaxy devices were confirmed to contain “backdoor” (comparing to “pure” Android; though it can also contain “backdoors” since actual code is closed, unlike source of core of Android OS).
Let’s not let the Russians know the good news of switching to the 99% Malware 4 sure devise they have now 🙂
NSA get them!!!
Calling all hackers against land grabbing Russians.
They deserve them.
Somehow I don’t think iOS 7 is your biggest problem…
Russia’s Government is pure stupid. And Val Putin is blooming damn idiot, plus a freaking Communist! Samdung and Putin deserve each other. Let the love begin! LOL
Unfortunately, Putin is not communist; he is “oligarchist”.
he’s rootin’ tootin’ Bad Vlad Putin!
Yup. Putin Power and American Apple be damned.
there’s no refutin’, he’s highfalutin’, no-shirt shootin’, ex-KGB salutin’ Bad Vlad Putin…
ya’ darn tootin’!
Thanks for your deep and thoughtful political analysis. Really helped me understand the situation.
The NSA will love this.
My sentiments exactly.
My thoughts to. But what I really thought about was the term “security”. If you take it to mean Russian Security like NSA security, then it would mean “we feel more secure if we can read everything on your device and nothing is hidden”.
Since I can’t do that with iOS, I guess we’ll use Android.
So they will change a US product made by the country’s most trusted brand for a Korean product made by a notorious IP thief, with software made by a no less notorious information thieving company fro the US (and also an IP thief). Good Move !!!
I guess they’re looking for security through complexity. Or perhaps the cold war was so cold it froze their brains.
Maybe the Russian government can give its iPads to the Ukraine people. Lord knows they deserve a little happiness…
If Russia had a tech industry worth a fig, they’d be able to make their own tablet computers. Samsung runs Andriod and that’s just as American as Apple’s OS. So they are unlikely to avoid the NSA by switching between to US software developments.
Wasn’t it Android with a Kernal flaw allowing privilege escalation to take over all 1 billion Android devices that was announced just last week?
1) a = b
2) ab = b^2
3) ab-a^2 = b^2 – a^2
4) a(b – a) = (b + a) (b – a)
5) a = (b + a)
6) a = (a + a) // because of #1) b = a
7) a = 2a
8) 1 = 2
Then 1 + 1 = 2 or 3 or 4
so 2 + 2 = (1 + 1) + 2 = 3 + 2 = 5
Conclusion: 2 + 2 can be = to 5
Sorry, but because of 1), dividing by (b-a) in 4) is dividing by zero — which is ruled out.
Multiplying by zero… no? But also ruled out.
No. Look what happened between step 4 and step 5: Both sides were divided by (a-b) which is zero because of the statement in step 1. Just as hannahjs indicated.
Ah yes. Thanks. I was looking solely at (b + a) (b – a).
you have obviously been dying to get that one out in a thread but it seems of little use in this debate.
42!
“What is the product of 9 and 6?” 😀
That’s so funny, those Russian are very funny people.. they mocking right?
Google just announce that the NEXT version (that that don’t exist just yet) will be finally business compatible because of security, so those Russian guys must be just kidding about samsungs being more secure, right?
http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/26/business-friendly-android/
“it’s a crazy Ivan!” – Tom Clancy
Where’s the +500 button?!
You realize said file systems are shown inside each app that uses the files they need (IE Goodreader for ad, etc)
That is the most idiotic argument I’ve seen. Try again..
Yes, the file system and flat look is causing mass migration… Oh-kay…….
Careful with your application of logic there: By your coupling of cause and effect you should realize that because your effect is known false (and unprovable true) your cause is called into question as well.
It’s unprovable in the true because you can’t migrate from a hardware device to an operating system — it’s nonsensical. We understand what you mean, but in fact research from the big guys shows “android” to be all manner of things and Google’s method of counting “tablets” to be flawed (if not phone activating, count as tablet).
It’s known false because there’s nothing to stop an iPad owner from buying an Android-based Blu-ray player; but to measure that as a migration away from iPad is again nonsensical.
Unless they changed something, outside of image, video and audio files I think the ‘file system’ you are referring to is specific to the App.. For example I am not aware of any text file accessing App in iOS that can see text files created in any other text file accessing App on the same device w/o it first sending out the text file to the cloud/pc so that it can be downloaded into the 2nd Apps own ‘file system’. The sandboxing of Apps in iOS is a double edged sword in that sense.
Again fuck off. Are you deaf or just stupid.
Fuckwit
In Soviet Russia, security tightens you!
you see moose and squirrel go by?
Natasha overslept while Boris missed squirrel standing in long line for Put In.
Looks like Samsung’s celebrity promotional team has changed their attention to Russia.
Free tablets for everyone!
Syrian rebels prefer to use iPads to correct the trajectory of their mortars. They don’t use Galaxy tabs. Putin — good luck with that! I like their strategy. I like it a lot!
Nikiforov based his actions on advice from neutral Swiss Consultants who are famous for holes in their cheese!
Maybe they are just deceiving the NSA. They keep using iPads and tell the whole world is an android tablet. In politics and in war nothing is what it seems.
I suppose the NSA is throwing a party for the security choice of the Russians. Now we and they can hack each other until blindness.
Oh, indeed. Bravo Russia. <-PWNed
This article was brought to you by Google News. That in itself should alarm the reader about possible coercion to promote the android operating system.
Hmmm… 90% malware, spyware, DNS attacks on Android software is safer. Good for Russia. Have fun with that.
Samesung promised Russia it would purchase the falling ruble if Putin takes a selfie with his billionaire oligarchs.
While the reasoning is suspect, ala KGB, the result is to be expected.
…’new Samsungs were ‘specially protected devices that can be used to work with confidential information.’”
Picture me heartily laughing myself into hysterics.
Number of the week: list of malicious Android apps hits 10 million @Kaspersky Lab, in Russia.
‘You shall know them by the shoes on their heads.’
The Russian government’s spy app, number 10,000,001.
Derek, as much respect I have for your posts here , I must point out a few things.
Android, as much as I hate it, does have an advantage over iOS in this instance.
The Russians need only get the latest source code (which is free) and then fork it to their own ends.
They can harden it against malware and create their own app server and block it from using any other.
This is not possible with iOS and Apple devices.
As a comms and security guy professionally, I would probably do the same thing. Although, I would make sure my developers were smart and literate in security issues.
Nothing is all things to all problems. As much as I admire apple and use it’s products (MBP, iPad Air, iPhone 5, there is room for others to excel.
Besides, we are talking about a few hundred devices – WGAS ( who gives a shit)
Ha ha ha, you are such a dickhead to suppose such crap. I’m a long time supporter and evangelist for apple.
I have fought many battles with corp it depts to include their devices.
Fuck you and your idiotic criticism
You are completely wrong, if you read my previous posts here you would see that I anything but a Samsung troll.
I deplore Samsung’s ip theft and it’s continuing immoral and illegal behaviour.
But, I am not blind to where appropriate tech is used to address specific needs.
Apple ( who I love ) don’t cover every possible need. Sometimes other tech is more appropriate for a particular issue.
If you think apple can address every issue in the wide world of info tech you are seriously deluded.
Can Apple compete with Cisco re wifi tech ? no.
Can Apple compete in the server space ? No, Mac mini server vs MS server or Linux ? Don’t be idiotic.
Apple does what it does better than anyone else. This why I have an iPhone, MacBook Pro and an iPad Air.
Nothing comes close to the ecosystem of devices that Apple have achieved.
But we are talking about consumer devices. Large scale environments are another matter.
Recent moves by apple re their corp deployment show that apple are serious about IT concerns which is a good move.
In other words, you have missed my point because you are a idiot or have another agenda.
How about addressing the points I made.
You show your odiously with your lame accusations.
Dammit, I meant “idiocy”
You are not Derek so I completely ignore your fatuous post.
If the hardware can deal with the individualized Android, I see your point. Blocking the use of public app servers is an terrific advantage.
On the iOS side:
– There is no need to block public sources of apps, as long as the device isn’t cracked/jailbroken. By default, no malware. (Although Apple’s record is not perfect. I wrote this month about a fake and reportedly dangerous version of the Tor Browser sitting on Apple’s App Store for months, despite Apple being warned).
– There is no worry about iOS devices being capable of running the latest iOS updates, as long as the hardware is from the last few years.
– Apple provides Apple Configurator for iOS devices. Apple offers web documentation about how to use it for individualizing and protecting business iOS devices:
https://www.apple.com/support/iphone/business/
https://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/1.5/
Apple Configurator allows you to deploy iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV devices in your school or business. You can use Apple Configurator to quickly configure large numbers of devices with the settings, apps, and data you specify for your students, employees, or customers.
You can use Apple Configurator to set a variety of iOS device settings, including:
• iOS updates
• Lock screen and wallpaper
• Device name
• Installed apps
• Installed documents
• Configuration profiles (including passcode policy, restrictions, Wi-Fi, VPN, and other settings)
• Mobile device management (MDM) solution enrollment
You can also create a backup of the settings, data, wallpaper, and Home screen layout from one iOS device and restore it to other devices.
Therefore, what’s the actual security advantage of using an individualize Android device?
BTW: Thanks for the friendly note. Much appreciated.
You are the embodiment of all the stupidity ever displayed on this site. Bravo, moron. Bravo!
They just adopted the discarded 📱tablets from Olympics that the participants left in their hotel room dust bins…
I say the CIA agent in charge of the disinformation campaign to flip the Russians into a more vunerable tablet deserves a medal and a commendation.
At the time of writing, there have been 56 comments and nobody seems to have noticed that these tablets will be ‘specially protected devices that can be used to work with confidential information.’
It’s not stock Android, so many of the comments made in this thread would not be applicable. I’ve no idea how secure they really will turn out to be, but if the NSA is able to access them, I don’t expect to hear them boasting about it on here.
Fuck off troll
Bite me arsehole
Hahahahahaaahaaaaahaaaaaaaa HAhahaHAHAHahahahaaaa Whoeoeoeoeoehohohohohohohihihihihihahahahaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaaaaaahahahah,
LMAOF
Here We Go:
Silly-Ass U.S. Sanctions on Russia 2014-03!!:
1. US is hypocritical
a. US illegally invaded 4 countries lately without womd etc.
but only to force-feed the US$ past its due date on the world world, that has had too many legit reasons to no longer respect the USA for the extent of its “democratic” abuses/corruption
b. if it weren’t for Russia US would’ve invaded Syria
& maybe instigated WWIII
c. US instigated Ukraine civil war
to be sole oil supplier to EU
as US embassy paid $200-$500/rebel/daily!
see anti-media report: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/269160515203961972/
that is how our tax $ are abused! undemocratically – without our consent! why pay taxes – what a waste!
why not fix our national problems from decadence: infra-structure & education vs bombs & terrorism that WE create?
2. Russia due to stupid US/Western sanctions now retaliates:
cuts US company deals out
i.e. Russian gov. just threw out Apple iPads for Samsung!
verdict:
very stupid US gov: grow up vs remain paranoid – think beyond your macho p size!
Security is NOT Freedom!
Freedom IS Security.
Plus, realize that the more freedom you give people, the happier they are, the less trouble they give the gov…so, stop f’ spying. how about controlling your own paranoia/fear/greed?! shove the cams up your asses! drink your own med!