What is peer-to-peer message encryption?

Knowledge Base
×
BlackBerry Enterprise KB content is getting an upgrade!
In the following weeks the Enterprise Knowledge Base solution content will only be available for customers with an active Support contract within our new customer community.
For more details and features see article 50864

What is peer-to-peer message encryption?

Article Number: 000010498 First Published: April 25, 2017 Last Modified: June 02, 2017 Type: Support

Environment

  • BlackBerry 10 smartphones
  • BlackBerry 7 OS and earlier smartphones
  • Peer-to-peer messaging (also known as PIN messaging)
Back to top ↑

Overview

During the manufacturing process, BlackBerry loads a common peer-to-peer encryption key onto BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry 7 OS and earlier smartphones.

Although BlackBerry smartphones use the peer-to-peer encryption key with Triple DES (3DES) Data Encryption Standard to encrypt PIN (personal identification number) messages, every BlackBerry smartphone can decrypt every PIN message that it receives, because each smartphone stores the same peer-to-peer encryption key. 

PIN message encryption does not prevent a BlackBerry smartphone other than the intended recipient from decrypting the message. Therefore, consider PIN messages as scrambled, but not encrypted. For more information about BBM security, see the BBM Security Note.

If you’re looking for an encrypted messaging solution, we offer BBM Protected, an Enterprise grade encryption for BBM messages between iPhone, Android and BlackBerry smartphones. Visit http://www.blackberry.com/bbmenterprise to learn more. For information about BBM Enterprise security, see the BBM Enterprise Security Note.

Back to top ↑

Was this helpful?

Thank you for your feedback!
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed