Purism Librem 5: The Fort Knox of smartphones
End-to-end encryption and a wif-fi 'kill switch' feature on this high-security smartphone
US-based tech firm Purism has established itself as a specialist in high-security laptops in recent years – and now it's taking on the smartphone market.
The company's first phone is the Librem 5, which Purism says will be the world's first smartphone with end-to-end encryption to help users "protect their digital identity in an increasingly unsafe mobile world".
End-to-end encryption is a security feature that prevents unauthorised access to a device. The feature scrambles the data that is sent and received, so others can't see what's being transmitted.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Along with encryption, Engadget says the smartphone comes with the "kill switch" that features on the company's laptops. This means you can instantly turn off functions such as the camera and wi-fi in the event of someone gaining access to the device.
While the host of security features may sound overwhelming, the website says Purism has designed the Librem 5 as an open source platform so users can customise the look and feel of the software.
The firm says it hopes its smartphone will address the "increasing concern among Android and iOS users grow around personal data they give up through WiFi connections".
However, DigitalJournal says the company needs to reach its crowdfunding goal of $1.5m (£1.2m) before production can begin. So far, the Librem 5 has gained $67,500 (£52,000) in support, although there is still 59 days to go before the crowd-sourcing period finishes.
If the phone does reach the market, Purism says it expects the Librem 5 to launch in early 2019 with a retail price of around $599 (£466).
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Women are getting their own baseball league again
In the Spotlight The league is on track to debut in 2026
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Giant TVs are becoming the next big retail commodity
Under the Radar Some manufacturers are introducing TVs over 8 feet long
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
When will mortgage rates finally start coming down?
The Explainer Much to potential homebuyers' chagrin, mortgage rates are still elevated
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Five of the best flip smartphones
The Week Recommends The most compact and versatile flip phones available, with prices ranging from £819 to £1,649
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport on TV guide: Christmas 2022 and New Year listings
Speed Read Enjoy a feast of sporting action with football, darts, rugby union, racing, NFL and NBA
By Mike Starling Published
-
House of the Dragon: what to expect from the Game of Thrones prequel
Speed Read Ten-part series, set 200 years before GoT, will show the incestuous decline of Targaryen
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
One in 20 young Americans identify as trans or non-binary
Speed Read New research suggests that 44% of US adults know someone who is transgender
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Turner Prize 2022: a ‘vintage’ shortlist?
Speed Read All four artists look towards ‘growth, revival and reinvention’ in their work
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
What’s on TV this Christmas? The best holiday television
Speed Read From films and documentaries to musicals for all the family
By The Week Staff Published
-
Coco vision: up close to Chanel opticals
Speed Read Parisian luxury house adds opticals to digital offering
By The Week Staff Published
-
Abba returns: how the Swedish supergroup and their ‘Abba-tars’ are taking a chance on a reunion
Speed Read From next May, digital avatars of the foursome will be performing concerts in east London
By The Week Staff Published