BlackBerry Adds New Quantum-Resistant Solution to its Cybersecurity Arsenal

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Oct 04, 2018, 09:20 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) announced today that it is adding a quantum-resistant code signing server to its array of cryptography tools. The new solution will allow software to be digitally signed using a scheme that will be hard to break with a quantum computer.

"Quantum computing will solve groundbreaking problems in healthcare, transportation, astrophysics, government, and many other fields; however, it also gives bad actors the potential to crack traditional public key cryptosystems and then attack the underlying data they protect," said Charles Eagan, Chief Technology Officer, BlackBerry. "By adding the quantum-resistant code signing server to our cybersecurity tools, we will be able to address a major security concern for industries that rely on assets that will be in use for a long time. If your product, whether it's a car or critical piece of infrastructure, needs to be functional 10-15 years from now, you need to be concerned about quantum computing attacks."

Available in November 2018, BlackBerry's new quantum-resistant code signing server uses cryptographic libraries from ISARA Corporation, the leader in agile quantum-safe security solutions. The combination of BlackBerry and ISARA's technology can protect software of long-lived assets – such as systems in critical infrastructure, industrial controls, aerospace and military electronics, telecommunications, transportation infrastructure, and connected cars – against an increasingly risky future when quantum computers will be able to easily break traditional code signing schemes.

"Within the next eight to 10 years, experts estimate there will be a large-scale quantum computer capable of breaking today's public key cryptography. The work we're doing with BlackBerry will give industries with durable connected devices the tools needed to secure their systems now and into the future," said Mike Brown, Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder at ISARA.

Quantum computers operate differently from today's classical computers. By harnessing the properties of quantum mechanics, a large-scale quantum computer will be able to solve problems that even today's supercomputers cannot– such as widely used factor-based encryption that protects everything from banking records and state secrets to connected devices and autonomous vehicles. Migrating to quantum-resistant systems will be a multi-year effort because of the ubiquity of public key cryptography; taking the first steps today is crucial for governments, enterprises and device vendors responsible for mission-critical infrastructure and safety-critical systems.

As the leader in applied cryptography and key management, BlackBerry Certicom provides managed PKI, key management and provisioning technology that helps customers protect the integrity of their silicon chips and devices from the point of manufacturing and throughout the device life cycle. Used to prevent product counterfeiting, re-manufacturing, and rogue network access, BlackBerry's secure key provisioning and identity management solutions are a proven way to protect next-generation connected cars, critical infrastructure, and IoT deployments.

To learn more about BlackBerry's new quantum-resistant solution and why Certicom technology is widely deployed in smartphone chips, smart meters, car telematics, and crypto toolkits, please visit www.certicom.com.

About BlackBerry
BlackBerry is an enterprise software and services company focused on securing and managing IoT endpoints. The company does this with BlackBerry Secure, an end-to-end Enterprise of Things platform, comprised of its enterprise communication and collaboration software and safety-certified embedded solutions. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company was founded in 1984 and operates in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Middle East, Latin America and Africa. The Company trades under the ticker symbol "BB" on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.BlackBerry.com.

BlackBerry and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of BlackBerry Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any third-party products or services.

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SOURCE BlackBerry Limited