We are almost at No Time To Die, and many James Bond fans are eager to see him use innovative gadgets to save the day. But is he really using the best technology to accomplish his mission? We don't think so. Anyone have a Laser Polaroid camera?
WIRED UK Original story.
Let's first look at the tools Bond will use in his delayed latest endeavor before we dive into what real-life spy should use. The movie will feature the Nokia 3310 and Nokia 7.2 phones, as well as the Nokia 8.3 5G. These phones were released in 2000, September 2019 and October 2020, respectively.
Even if you look past the unlikely alliance of Britain's fictional superspy with Nokia, which captured just 0.7 percent in the smartphone market last year, outdated mobiles are not cutting-edge bad-guy-beating technology.
James Hadley, founder and CEO of Immersive Labs, a cybersecurity training platform and skills platform, had this to say about Bond's incontinence mobile choices. He suggested that Bond check Q has updated his OS if he is given an older Android phone. This will prevent new software vulnerabilities.
Hadley recognizes the benefits of older phones but they aren't practical for modern spying. Some people believe that dumb phonespre-smartphones are less dependent on softwarekeep them safe," he said. Bond would be unable to access the most basic internet applications due to this.
It's about making older phones less vulnerable. Hadley said that Q should be savvy about modern security threats, and not just the lethal fountain pen. Jake Moore, a former officer and cybersecurity expert at Eset, says: While older devices are more vulnerable to security threats, the anti-tracking and anti-surveillance functions would compensate for the shortcomings of the legacy operating system.
What if Bond was using the most cutting-edge technology available? We know this from Rian Johnson of Knives Out (director of Daniel Craig's other Daniel Craig film), that James Bond would be allowed to use an iPhone if a deal was made. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the director stated that Apple does not allow movie villains to use its latest and greatest gadgets.
An iPhone is not a good choice for 007. James Bond needs untraceable phones that are anti-surveillance and anti-interception. Moore says that an iPhone, no matter how well-designed, would not be able offer this capability to ensure tracking is not an option. Moore says that while the security features of an iPhone are impressive enough for normal users, threats like Pegasus can make it difficult for spys to use it securely and confidently.
Pegasus, a piece NSO's spyware, could access the iPhone and copy messages, make calls, and even access it. Apple responded by releasing patches that fix bugs believed to have been exploited in Pegasus.
Moore says that adversaries could use Pegasus spyware to target James Bond if Moore were an iPhone user. Hadley states that while an iPhone can capture pictures of car chases and explosions, it should not be used to download embassy blueprints or covert incursions. This must be done on a locked down terminal controlled by a specialist team within a secure network.
Pegasus is not the only thing that's at stake. A recent explosive spyware report outlines additional concerns security experts have regarding iOS. It states that Apple's closed ecosystem approach limits their ability to use monitoring tools, and to conduct investigations to uncover vulnerabilities.
