When BlackBerry first designed the PRIV, we did so with privacy and security in mind. In addition to applying our own security expertise to the Android OS, we've committed ourselves to the release of monthly security patches, in order to better protect our users against emerging threats in the Android space. Since launch, we've kept that promise, with the release of our latest update today.
We've not done so alone. The majority of our carrier partners have pledged support to our efforts, and some have even taken measures to facilitate quicker certification of our patches. As a result, we've managed to deliver our security updates the same day as Google's Nexus devices receive theirs – and in some cases, even before.
One thing we've learned from our monthly release is how important security really is to our end users. We've seen fantastic uptake rates on our PRIV patches thus far, with more than 70% of users in some regions installing January's update within the first 24 hours.
Android security has proven itself a consistent challenge for both carriers and OEMs, requiring an ongoing commitment to patching and prevention. With the PRIV, we set out to make such a commitment, tapping into the same expertise that's earned us a reputation as a market leader in security. And it's that same reputation which has inspired so many to throw their support behind the PRIV:
Even major publications have taken note of what we've done with PRIV:
"I asked my Enterprise reviewer if he would buy the device, and he said…'I am happy that my company is not worried about my using it for work because they trust Blackberry. This phone also has the space to store all the downloaded BBC iPlayer content, as well as the app itself, to watch during long-haul flights to the US makes it worthy of the £570 that Blackberry are asking for it!'"
(BlackBerry PRIV In-Depth Review – The King Is Back by Sunetra Chakravarti, Mobile Choice UK)
"The Android OS gets knocked for not being secure and security is the special sauce that BlackBerry brings to the table. The niche they are going after is the enterprise user who wants a hard keyboard and wants to do more than only business on their phone."
(IDC Analyst Ramon Llamas, quoted by Matt Hamblen, Computerworld)
"[The PRIV] will be the first mainstream Android smartphone vendor to offer not only monthly security updates, before even Google pushes them, but also hotfix patching and enterprise-managed updates via the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) and OTA management systems. Add in the hardened kernel and a "hardware root of trust" with the silicon providers and manufacturing process, and you get a smartphone that goes the extra mile to make your content secure."
(5 Reasons Why the BlackBerry PRIV Could Be the Best Android Business Smartphone by Desire Athow, TechRadar Pro)
We designed the PRIV for privacy and security, and we remain committed to that design. Moving forward, we'll continue dedicating ourselves to making Android as secure as possible. You – and your personal information – deserve no less.
This month's updates are available today. Click here for instructions on how to get it. And if you'd like to know more about how the PRIV's designed to safeguard your privacy, check out our security brochure, found here. Finally, if you still don't have a PRIV of your own, take a look at the availability blog for details on how and where to purchase one.
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