BlackBerry today announced that it is working with Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cloud security, to expand the protection it already provides to BlackBerry customers against malware and privacy issues related to third-party applications.
As part of a multi-level and phased approach for addressing privacy implications and security concerns, BlackBerry will incorporate the Trend Micro Mobile Application Reputation Service with its current internal, proprietary system for analyzing applications. With the cloud-based Trend Micro Mobile Application Reputation Service, both current and new applications submitted to the BlackBerry World storefront will be scanned for potential malicious behavior.
“BlackBerry is working with Trend Micro to implement a more robust approach for addressing privacy and security concerns related to third-party applications,” said Adrian Stone, Director, BlackBerry Security Response and Threat Analysis at BlackBerry. “By incorporating Trend Micro’s advanced mobile scanning and detection capabilities with our own internal, proprietary application analyzing system, we can provide another layer of protection and assurance for BlackBerry customers. Together, BlackBerry and Trend Micro are developing an innovative and comprehensive solution for protecting BlackBerry customers against emerging mobile security concerns.”
“The volume of malicious and high-risk mobile apps are on the rise across the industry, which is why we applaud BlackBerry’s commitment to protecting their customers against these emerging mobile threats,” said Kevin Simzer, Vice President of Corporate Development and Alliances, Trend Micro. “With the speed that cybercriminals are targeting new platforms and applications, Trend Micro and BlackBerry’s strategic collaboration is natural and timely for the security of end users. Together, the two companies can further secure and enhance BlackBerry customers’ mobile experience.”
Trend Micro has scanned and evaluated over 2 million mobile applications. Mobile Application Reputation Service is Trend Micro’s next generation cloud-based technology for mobile operating systems that analyzes application code and behavior to identify risks from malware and data leaks. It also detects the abuse of battery, memory, and data resources. This service leverages the Trend Micro Smart Protection Network infrastructure to provide meaningful mobile app reputation ratings. The Smart Protection Network is built upon unique “in-the-cloud,” technologies that naturally fit with cloud-based security services like the Mobile Application Reputation Service. By checking URLs, emails, files, and applications against continuously updated and correlated threat databases, customers always have immediate access to the latest protection.
