Post date: Jul 04, 2013 8:48:2 PM
Anti-eavesdropping smartphone technology developed by a Czech firm is being promoted as one answer to phone surveillance. Two weeks after the country's prime minister was forced to resign amid a phone-tapping scandal, sales of theProbin anti-eavesdropping service is booming. Jim Drury has more.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (REUTERS) - Czech technology company Probin, believes it has the solution for those who want to keep their private phone calls, private.
Even the most sophisticated snoopers, it says, would find it impossible to break into the company's encrypted 'Cybersmart' phone service.
Compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S3, the system makes phones safe through the touch of a button, according to Probin director Jiri Schmidt.PROBIN DIRECTOR, JIRI SCHMIDT,
"As well as the usual menu, there are two additional icons: secure voice and secure SMS. When I want to encrypt the phone, I push the 'secure voice' icon and select the group of users I can speak securely to before dialling the recipient."
Last month's resignation of Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas after his office allegedly bugged the phone of his estranged wife has increased interest among various groups in the Czech Republic.
PROBIN DIRECTOR, JIRI SCHMIDT,
"One group is construction companies. Second, companies working in health care. The third group is, let's say, firms with a state presence, or state organisations, etc."
Probin estimates that nation-wide more than 10,000 phones are tapped per year.
The company has also devised this ultra-sensitive thermal imaging camera to find hidden bugging devices.
Probin Special Technician, Jiri Kocfelda....
PROBIN SPECIAL TECHNICIAN, JIRI KOCFELDA,
"We're using this device to reveal hidden bugs or eavesdropping devices. An active bug radiates heat. We're able to find the bug anywhere, with the sensitivity of one hundredth of a degree Celsius."
Cryptosmart sales have doubled in the past two years, despite the service costing 500 dollars a year on top of users' phone bills.
With corporate and government espionage a growing concern, Probin believes many will see this as a price worth paying to secure their privacy.