So, who is hacking your BlackBerry smartphone?

Rows over whether several emerging countries can effectively intercept BlackBerry smartphone messaging have turned attention to how state spy agencies access electronic communications.   

For business users, the main question is not whether messages can be read, but whether that information will then be used for commercial ends.

Not surprisingly, nations almost invariably refuse to comment on how intelligence information is used.

Reuters spoke to industry analysts and former intelligence officers. Some of their views on how key nations use electronic surveillance.                                                                   

RUSSIA
From the days of the Tsarist secret police, Russian security agencies have had a reputation for closely monitoring foreigners and their communications. Security experts say many hotel rooms are rigged with bugs and outside corporates should be extremely wary about what information they take into the country.             

The Russian rollout of BlackBerry smartphone was delayed for two years while the FSB negotiated security access.

“In Russia, journalists are well aware that their e-mail is intercepted,” says  Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy Eurasia Group.

CHINA
China heavily restricts use of some communications technologies and controls access to the Internet behind its ‘great firewall’ in what analysts say is in part an attempt to stifle dissent and the spread of words, ideas and images anathema to the ruling Communist Party. China blocks multiple websites and some communications tools such as Skype.

In part due to its relative conventional military imbalance compared to the United States, China is seen as having put particular effort into building its cyber warfare capacity.
It has also been repeatedly suspected of cyber attacks on US companies — a factor in Google's decision to withdraw from mainland China earlier this year.

Google did not say whether it believed China's government was behind the hacker attacks that prompted its move. But a US congressional advisory panel said in November 2009 China’s government appeared increasingly to be piercing US government and defence industry networks to gather data for its military.                                          

China has repeatedly denied the government sponsors hacking.
“The Chinese have the resources to put maybe 100 agents or resources on to a problem that MI6 or the CIA could only devote five or six to,” said former US counter-terrorism agent Fred Burton, now vice president for consultancy Stratfor.

Many firms are closely tied to the state, but that closeness may not always translate to access to commercial intelligence.

“In China, I don’t think corporates should assume that everything they write is handed directly to their commercial rivals,” says Bremmer.

MIDDLE EAST                                           
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have their own disputes over BlackBerry messaging, but have rolled back on threats to shut the service altogether.

In general, analysts say, the main priority of the Middle East and Gulf states when it comes to electronic surveillance is tackling militancy, political dissent and “immoral behaviour” rather than commercial espionage.                                          

Gulf-based information security expert Ali Jahangeri says he believes a potential solution could involve having two BlackBerry systems, one for local users that could be easily monitored and a more secure system for high-end international clients who value confidentiality.

AFRICA                                           
African security services are seen as relatively low-tech compared to their counterparts elsewhere, although Burton warns Western corporates could face spying from other foreign intelligence services with good African partnerships.

That could put Western firms at a disadvantage compared to foreign rivals from countries such as China. Nigeria has so far said it has no plans to seek access to Blackberry devices. Experts say African countries spying on foreign companies use more traditional methods such as tailing managers or buying information from drivers, cleaners and local staff.