Turning off JavaScript closes BlackBerry security exploit

by on March 16, 2011

When the news ran last week, I didn’t think it was that big a deal. Every year at the CanSecWest Applied Security Conference there is a Pwn2Own contest that pits hackers against each other for $15,000 in prize money. The objective: find exploits in web browsers and, new to 2011, mobile phones. As we learned after the event, the hackers exploited the BlackBerry browser and ran attack code. Does that mean that your BlackBerry is at risk? That remains uncertain, but RIM is taking no chances. There was a Knowledge Base article up about this, but when I checked it this morning it was nowhere to be found. In any case, it’s an easy fix that will keep your smartphone safe while RIM works on a security update. This is only necessary if you are running BlackBerry OS 6. To disable JavaScript, open the browser and go into Options. When you scroll down you’ll see the Enable JavaScript option under Web Content. Uncheck it, and your device will be safe from this particular exploit. Of course, it will cause other changes in your BlackBerry browser, ones you probably won’t like. JavaScript is the backbone of the WebKit browser. Without it you probably won’t like the browser any more than previous ones. And we all know how everyone felt about the previous browsers. I’m honestly not sure what to do here. The information is out there, so it does make sense to protect the device. But that means a poor browsing experience. My device’s security is probably more important, but how real is this threat? It’s all very unclear, and it really puts the onus on RIM to create a security update so that we can continue using JavaScript with peace of mind.

About the Author

Joe Pawlikowski is the Senior Editor at MobileMoo.com and has been covering the mobile industry full time since 2007. When he's not writing about the tech scene, he can be found discussing his personal love - baseball (and more specifically the New York Yankees) as well as writing on his personal blog.

1 comment… read it below or add one

mitch pitt May 10, 2011 at 12:51 am

having numerous problems on my 3rd blacknerry 8520 curve 3rD exchange in 1 year. Lose the edge on top a lot , shows an EN at top right corner , always says gateway timed out or 413 error server entity to large keyboard typing wrong letters and to small n says AT&T service when I have T-Mobile , runs to slow I don’t know proper setttings or what connections should be on. Worst cheapest blackberry 8520 curve.ever made and the other 2 broke down in less then a year.takes forever to type battery runs down. Messages to my emails dissapeers so much more problems how does anyone type on so tiny keyboard what do I do ? T-Mobile got lousy serice now keep sending me ths cheapest piece of shit curve 8520 bberry ever made its not good for text with tiny keyboard. Words come out small. Help they should send better deviice. My phone is 2245381654.mitch Pitt what can I do?

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