Boeing develops self-destructing smartphone

US aviation giant Boeing has developed a new smartphone for secure communications that can wipe data and software stored when someone attempts to break into it.
The 'Black' smartphone is aimed mainly at people working in defence and homeland security who need to keep communication secure and avoid data loss.
The Chicago-based company has filed documents with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) detailing a secure smartphone capable of self-destruction, or rendering itself inoperable when someone attempts to break into it, according to Fast Company.
Through embedded hardware security features, software policy configurations and physical modularity, Black gives customers a trusted, more flexible and productive solution, the company said on its website.

Despite the continuous innovation in commercial mobile technology, current devices are not designed from inception with the security and flexibility needed to match their evolving mission and enterprise environment, Boeing said.
"The Boeing Black smartphone was designed with security and modularity in mind to ensure our customers can use the same smartphone across a range of missions and configurations," the company said.

Hardware media encryption and configurable inhibit controls are embedded to protect the device, its data, and the transmission of information, significantly reducing the risk of mission compromise due to data loss, the company said.
"Black provides unparallelled modularity and integration with other mobile ecosystems based on mission-specific requirements," the website says.

Boeing Black's flexibility is enabled by a modular expansion port that can be used for integrating additional sensors or technology enhancements like satellite connectivity or expanding power capacity, plus other customisations.
Black has a dual-SIM capability that enables users to switch between government and commercial networks.