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Johannesburg - With public awareness around the need for smartphone privacy and security could BlackBerry’s “most secure Android smartphone”, the DTEK50, be launched at a critical time?
US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden addressing a South African crowd earlier this said that citizens needed to push for a right to encryption when communicating.
READ: BlackBerry pins revival hopes on latest SA phone launch
“We need to highlight the importance of right to encryption and the only way we can win is by removing institutional capabilities and showing people that this is the way the world should work,” he said.
On Tuesday, BlackBerry made a comeback into the market with the launch of the DTEK50, which saw more security features and apps to prevent the device from being hacked.
The DTEK50 features rapid security patching which deliver offers patch management to protect the device from malicious threats.
The DTEK App, which comes preloaded with the device, enables users to monitor their operating system and know when their privacy could be at risk and to take action to improve it.
READ: BlackBerry's swansong coming to SA
The app is able to notify the user when apps installed on the device make use of one of the device’s functions such as a camera, microphone and GPS.
The app also allows the user to deny permissions to the devices functions.
The DTEK50 features the Android Marshmallow operating system, a 5.2” scratch resistant display, 13 megapixel rear camera and 8 megapixel facing camera.
The device also features a Snapdragon 617 processor, 3GB RAM and 2610mAh battery.
The DTEK50 is available at MTN on contract for R299 per month or at a retail price of R6 899 and will become available through other networks and retailers in the weeks to come.
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