Nokia Xpress browser found to decrypt HTTPS traffic and get all your sensitive information, Nokia says don't worry
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Basically, Nokia admitted the Xpress Browser would decrypt all data going through HTTPS connections, after Indian security researcher Gaurang Pandya signaled the alarm that traffic from his Asha Series 40 phone was being routed through Nokia’s servers.
This is done to condense traffic and is similar to what other browsers like Opera Mini do. The benefit is for those with low data allowances who still want to make the most of their megabytes.
What’s troubling however is the particular fact that Nokia gets to see decrypted HTTPS requests and get access to sensitive information.
“From the tests that were preformed, it is evident that Nokia is performing Man In The Middle Attack for sensitive HTTPS traffic originated from their phone and hence they do have access to clear text information which could include user credentials to various sites such as social networking, banking, credit card information or anything that is sensitive in nature.”
Nokia has now replied to the allegations with the following:
“Importantly, the proxy servers do not store the content of web pages visited by our users or any information they enter into them,” the company said. “When temporary decryption of HTTPS connections is required on our proxy servers, to transform and deliver users’ content, it is done in a secure manner.
Nokia has implemented appropriate organizational and technical measures to prevent access to private information. Claims that we would access complete unencrypted information are inaccurate.”
Bottomline is you’d just have to trust Nokia. What is troubling however is the fact that unlike other similar browsers like Opera Mini, the company was up until now secretive about all of this activity happening under the hood.
source: GigaOM
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18 Comments
2. Awsan posted on 11 Jan 2013, 06:02 14 3
You trust google and facebook everyday with everything but you cant trust nokia for once??
4. PhoneArenaUser posted on 11 Jan 2013, 06:05 4 8
I don't trust no one of them, nor Nokia, nor Facebook, nor Google.
6. Nathan_ingx posted on 11 Jan 2013, 06:15 5 1
Yup, i trust none either... Anything can be broken into...
9. wendygarett posted on 11 Jan 2013, 06:31 5 3
But I trust you Nathan :)
11. Nathan_ingx posted on 11 Jan 2013, 07:21 1 2
...and you should, i'm not something that is available on the internet :D
Thank though...appreciate that.
16. Credo posted on 11 Jan 2013, 18:54 2 0
Hey Wendy did you know that the 6th generation of Pokemon is being announced ?
17. wendygarett posted on 11 Jan 2013, 19:13 0 1
I do :)
isn't it awesome?
3. Nathan_ingx posted on 11 Jan 2013, 06:05 5 0
I saw the headline and i thought a Lumia Xpressmusic phone was in the rumor mills. Lol, bad eye...
8. eisenbricher posted on 11 Jan 2013, 06:24 4 2
Nokia needs one XpressMusic Lumia phone. Camera and pureview are all good, but Sound output is not that good as used to be on older phones such as N91 and 5800. You are correct about this.
12. Nathan_ingx posted on 11 Jan 2013, 07:24 2 0
I never gave it a thought until i misread the headline. But i think a Lumia Xpressmusic phone with Pureview goodness should widen the customer base and put Nokia in a good spot.
7. thunderbolt posted on 11 Jan 2013, 06:24 0 2
yea not to worry till card gets compromised ... and then headaches follow.
10. muhsen posted on 11 Jan 2013, 07:16 8 1
its funny, that this was only made big deal in the case of nokia xpress browser , while all this is actually the same with opera mini and uc browser. all compressing browsers whatever they r use decryption of all data going through HTTPS connections and no one seems to complain about opera mini or uc browser.
btw ,about "What is troubling however is the fact that unlike other similar browsers like Opera Mini, the company was up until now secretive about all of this activity happening under the hood. " , nokia didn't say about it because they don't need to since nokia xpress browser is a compressing browser so it will use the same techniques as any compressing browser like opera mini and uc browser so it will use decryption HTTPS. and frankly, neither opera nor uc spoke about that in opera mini and uc browser so no point of the big deal. besides if nokia(or samsung or apple) wants to steal ur data, i think they have all the means to steal it as they manufacture phones. no point of this article!!! next please!
15. roscuthiii posted on 11 Jan 2013, 09:19 1 0
...but I always worry when somebody says, "Don't worry."
It's like when I walk in a bank and say, "Nobody move." They always move. :-\
18. sonofzeus posted on 12 Jan 2013, 12:48 0 0
The issue is not about trusting nokia, now the hackers know where to hack to get all the personal info at one stop
