Security concerns force President Trump to ditch Android phone

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly had to switch from his old Android phone to a new device, potentially a modified Apple iPhone.

Trump turned in his previous phone after arriving in Washington, D.C. on Thursday in preparation for Friday's inauguration, the Associated Press said. He was under pressure from security agencies to do so, given the potential threats posed by hackers gaining access.

While Trump's new device is unknown, it could be an iPhone if he follows in the steps of his predecessor. Barack Obama was the first U.S. president to carry a cellphone, initially starting with a modified BlackBerry, later migrating to an iPhone.

Obama's iPhone had its own restrictions, such as a limited number of people he could exchange email with. One benefit, though, is that it was the only device with access to the @POTUS Twitter account.

Trump was infamous for his Twitter posts during his election campaign, but has said he will continue to post through the @realDonaldTrump account, even after taking office. He or his staff have posted from an iPhone in the past.

While it is possible to lock down an Android phone — by enabling full-disk encryption, using secure services, disabling riskier features, or even writing a customized version of Android — an iPhone is often a simpler option. Full-disk encryption is on by default in iOS 8 and later, and any device with a Touch ID sensor also has a Secure Enclave, making even physical hacking difficult without a warrant.

iOS also doesn't allow native filesystem access, restricting what the software is capable of, but also safely sandboxing apps.

As of this writing, Trump's inauguration ceremony is currently ongoing. Read how to watch the event live on an iOS device or Apple TV.

28 Comments

melgross 33607 comments · 20 Years

About 7 years ago

I believe it's the defense department that has chosen a Samsung phone with Knox as its security phone. I don't know why, but there must be some good reason. Perhaps that's what they'll give Trump.

igorsky 773 comments · 9 Years

melgross said:

I believe it's the defense department that has chosen a Samsung phone with Knox as its security phone. I don't know why, but there must be some good reason. Perhaps that's what they'll give Trump.

This is incorrect...Samsung phones with Knox have been approved for use, nothing more. This isn't any kind of exclusive.

gatorguy 24608 comments · 13 Years

igorsky said:

melgross said:

I believe it's the defense department that has chosen a Samsung phone with Knox as its security phone. I don't know why, but there must be some good reason. Perhaps that's what they'll give Trump.

This is incorrect...Samsung phones with Knox have been approved for use, nothing more. This isn't any kind of exclusive.

I guarantee the phone he's using will be reported here if it's found to be an iPhone. No stock phone would be permitted in any event. Was it ever determined Obama used even a modified iPhone? Maybe, but it was a funny exchange when Jimmy Fallon asked him about it after he gave up his Blackberry last year:
http://fortune.com/2016/06/10/president-obamas-new-smartphone-is-more-like-a-toddler-phone/

"After seven years in the Oval Office, Obama was told to hand over is Blackberry in favour of an NSA-made "hardened" phone. The device, which speculation indicates could be a Samsung Galaxy S4, has biometric authentication, but it doesn't have a camera and is only allowed to download a certain number of restricted apps from the Defense Information Systems Agency's store.
When Obama was given a smartphone to replace his Blackberry at the beginning of this year he says the NSA told him, "Mr President for security reasons this is a great phone, state of the art, but it doesn't take pictures, you can't text, the phone doesn't work, you can't play your music on it".
"Does your three year old have one of those play phones? With the stickers on it? That's basically the phone I've got," Obama told Jimmy Fallon in June (2016)"
:)

SpamSandwich 32917 comments · 19 Years

melgross said:

I believe it's the defense department that has chosen a Samsung phone with Knox as its security phone. I don't know why, but there must be some good reason. Perhaps that's what they'll give Trump.

That would be poor optics for Trump. Probably an iPhone.

bloggerblog 2514 comments · 16 Years

gatorguy said:

igorsky said:

melgross said:

I believe it's the defense department that has chosen a Samsung phone with Knox as its security phone. I don't know why, but there must be some good reason. Perhaps that's what they'll give Trump.

This is incorrect...Samsung phones with Knox have been approved for use, nothing more. This isn't any kind of exclusive.

I guarantee the phone he's using will be reported here if it's found to be an iPhone. No stock phone would be permitted in any event.

iPhone now accepts MDM (Mobile Device Management), so no need for a custom iOS install anymore.