The SecureGSM™ SP Party Verification screen is a unique, language independent module which is implemented to ensure that there is no doubt about the security of the encrypted communication channel.
Before communications can be considered secure, it is important to follow the procedures outlined below.
Upon connection of an outgoing or incoming phone call, you will be presented with the Party Verification Screen. The purpose of this stage is for both parties to verify each other, to ensure that both of you are in fact talking to the intended person and that there is no threat of eavesdropping on your conversation.
There is a two step procedure for verification.
STEP 1 - Voice recognition.
You should be sure that you recognize the other party by voice, if you do not recognize their voice, then you don't know who you are actually talking to.
Note: The human voice is considered extremely difficult to synthesize and/or impersonate.
STEP 2 – Hash function representation confirmation.
To ensure that public key exchange is performed between authorised parties only, namely yourself and the other party with whom you wish to talk securely, a visual hash function (SHA-256) representation is displayed on the Party Verification screen which must be identical on both devices. This ensures that encryption can only happen between your two devices and that no “man in the middle” is present.
The Hash function representation is a combination of one shape and four numbers.
If the combination of shape and numbers is not identical on both devices, then your connection cannot be secure. This can happen only in instances where an “eavesdropper” or “man in the middle” is attempting to intercept your conversation, and is supplying a different set of encryption keys to each device or there is a network error and communication between devices has somehow been corrupted.
At this stage, it is a good idea to terminate communications and assume that the line cannot be secure.
As long as the verification screen is identical on both devices, pressing [OK] will instruct SecureGSM™ to continue communications, and you can be rest assured that the line is truly secure*.
*Note: For users of SecureGSM™ SP Evaluation, please refer to the "About SecureGSM™ Evaluation" section for an explanation of the differences in security level.
The Status Bar will display information that the line is secure, and you are free to conduct your conversation and/or secure messaging.