RIM Confirms That Etisalat BlackBerry Update Was Indeed SpyWare

**GaryF** · #1 07-21-2009 -

I know there was some discussion on this matter on the forums earlier this week, but todays news confirms that this was not a legitimate update and includes RIM's comments as well as the Registration App Remover from RIM for anyone who has loaded this.

From RIMarkable
"Last week UAE-based telecom firm Etisalat pushed out an update to its 145,000 BlackBerry users claiming that it would improve performance. It turns out, however, that the “performance update” actually was a telecommunications surveillance application produced by the U.S. based firm SS8, which describes itself as a provider of “lawful electronic intercept and surveillance solutions“."

From RIM:
"Recently an update may have been provided to you by Etisalat for your BlackBerry Handheld via a WAP push. The Etisalat update is not a RIM-authorized update and was not developed by RIM. Independent sources have concluded that the Etisalat update is not designed to improve performance of your BlackBerry Handheld, but rather to send received messages back to a central server. RIM has developed this software (“Software”) that will enable you to remove the Etisalat update."

Download the App Remover HERE

**jeffallen8** · #2 07-21-2009 -

Installed the app remover on my device and it says I didnt have it installed wahoo

**ventz** · #3 07-21-2009 -

I found this earlier this morning: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8161190.stm

sweetkalena · #4 07-21-2009 -

Holy cow Batman! I no have it eeder. YAY!
~via smartphone mobile.pinstack.com~

**thbassman** · #5 07-21-2009 -

I saw an update on my desktop for DM 5.0. Will be on the lookout.

Thb
~via smartphone mobile.pinstack.com~

bak9799 · #6 07-21-2009 -

I'm free of the app too! woo-whoo!!!

**srl7741** · #7 07-21-2009 -

I hope everyone with a Blackberry gets this information so they can remove the software.

Maybe those of you with a BB should jump on all your methods of communication and pass this onto those who may not know.

.

bcbbanga4l · #8 07-21-2009 -

Is this for real?
~via smartphone mobile.pinstack.com~

fox581 · #9 07-21-2009 -

Don't have it either. Now they are starting to hit the blackberry community
~via smartphone mobile.pinstack.com~

**MStrawder** · #10 07-22-2009 -

Wow, that's a first. I'm actually quite happy RIM has not only distanced themselves from this incident, but also snubbed their nose at the carrier and released a fix.

**ventz** · #11 07-22-2009 -

As one of my co-workers said:

At what point, does a major cell provider say "Let's screw over all of our customers and lose their trust!"...

**MStrawder** · #12 07-23-2009 -

Quote:

Originally Posted by ventz

As one of my co-workers said:

At what point, does a major cell provider say "Let's screw over all of our customers and lose their trust!"...

I guess when there's only one other competitor in the country and they can't cover everywhere.