Communication is essential for every modern operation, whether it’s a government agency, a critical infrastructure organization, or a small team striving to make a difference. However, the communications landscape is evolving rapidly. Communications data and networks are now a target-rich environment for attackers. Despite these growing risks, many organizations rely on consumer messaging platforms for sensitive exchanges without fully understanding the consequences.
On a recent episode of the KBKast podcast, I spoke with Karissa Breen about the importance of secure communications. We discussed why they are vital for governments and mission-critical organizations and how more sophisticated solutions like BlackBerry® SecuSUITE® are crucial for protecting classified messages.
Why Consumer Apps Fail for Secure Use
Picture this scenario: A senior government official uses a consumer messaging app to exchange confidential information. It seems harmless until their identity is spoofed, sensitive details are leaked, or trust is undermined or exploited.
Consumer messaging platforms like WhatsApp or Signal, excel for casual, everyday use. However, they are not built for high-security environments. These apps are built to connect billions, not to safeguard state secrets or operational plans. They lack essential elements for protecting sensitive data, such as:
- Data Sovereignty: Guaranteeing where sensitive conversations are stored.
- Identity Validation: Ensuring the person on the other side is who they claim to be.
- Record Keeping and Compliance: Meeting stringent compliance requirements with proper communication archiving.
Recent incidents, including the compromise of Signal accounts tied to government officials, highlight these shortcomings. Increasingly, leaders worldwide are rethinking their approach to secure communication. It’s no longer a theoretical risk; the dangers are here and they're very real.
The Rise of AI Voice Spoofing
Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) introduce a chilling risk to digital communications, especially with AI-powered voice spoofing. With just a few seconds of publicly available audio, attackers can convincingly impersonate individuals. Suddenly, they’re mimicking you with alarming accuracy, persuading colleagues to act on false information, approving fund transfers, or accessing sensitive systems.
To demonstrate this, I used AI-tools to replicate a BlackBerry executive’s voice from a German-speaking, LinkedIn video. In just minutes, I created convincing false English sentences. While this was a controlled experiment, the implications are sobering.
Voice spoofing is not just a minor threat, it has the potential to impact individuals, organizations, and governments on a large scale. Combined with metadata analysis, which includes details about your location, contacts, and timing, it can create highly convincing simulations.
Metadata: A Security Weak Spot
Many overlook metadata, dismissing it as “data about data.” This is a massive oversight, as metadata can reveal:
- Your movements through location tracking.
- Your communication patterns.
- Sensitive interactions and relationships between individuals or organizations.
A striking example: an unusual spike in pizza deliveries at a government building outside of standard hours tipped analysts off to a crisis meeting, indicating that a high-level incident was underway.
Metadata can expose sensitive operations. It might seem like a small detail, but in the wrong hands, it becomes a powerful tool for exploitation. The impact could be serious.
6 Steps to Strengthen Communication Security
To address threats like AI-voice spoofing, metadata leaks, and consumer-app vulnerabilities, organizations must adopt a multilayered approach. Here are 6 steps that both individuals and enterprises can use to safeguard their communications:
1. Separate Personal and Professional Communication
- Use secure, company-approved platforms for work-related discussions to maintain compliance and confidentiality.
- Avoid mixing personal and work conversations to minimize accidental leaks or mistakes.
2. Adopt Multi-Layered Identity Verification
- Rely on systems that incorporate cryptographic identity validation to ensure the sender is who they claim to be.
- For sensitive topics, verify identities through two different channels, like a phone call and an email for extra security.
3. Invest in Communications Built for Security
- Avoid using consumer-grade applications for work. Instead use platforms designed to support government-grade encryption, sovereign data control, and compliance certifications (e.g., NATO, NSA CSfC).
- Use solutions with real-time monitoring and alert capabilities for added operational resilience.
4. Educate and Equip Teams
- Stay informed about phishing attempts, recognizing AI-driven spear phishing messages, and best practices for securely handling sensitive data.
- Encourage a mindset of vigilance. Educate teams to always avoid sharing sensitive content over less secure platforms, even if they seem more convenient.
5. Protect and Monitor Metadata
- Partner with providers that encrypt both your content and metadata
- Choose deployment options (e.g., on-premises or sovereign cloud) that put you in control of your data resides.
6. Leverage AI-Driven Defensive Capabilities
- Use AI to detect suspicious patterns and flag risks faster than manual monitoring.
How BlackBerry Secures Communication
BlackBerry empowers organizations prepare for the mounting communication risks of tomorrow, with easy to deploy, easy to use tools that are trusted by governments, including NATO, and mission-critical sectors worldwide.
In a landscape where every unencrypted call or unsecured message is an open door for exploitation. The cost of outdated communication tools can have serious consequences. Unfortunately, these issues often only come to light after a breach or crisis has occurred.
BlackBerry SecuSUITE is a secure, sovereign platform purpose-built to protect sensitive data, safeguard metadata, and ensure operational resilience. With government-grade encryption and proven technology, BlackBerry helps government agencies, critical infrastructure, and enterprises to move beyond legacy systems and maintain trust where it counts.
