14 DAY TRIAL // Macate, a Silicon Valley smartphone maker, has introduced a new line of devices aimed at users who value their privacy and personal security.
The new Macate GATCA Elite series, revealed yesterday at CES 2016, in Las Vegas, USA, is yet another secure-communications smartphone released to quench the ever-growing thirst for mobile security.
Operating on a modified version of the Android 5.1 OS, Macate's new GATCA cyberphone will be competing with Blackberry's PRIV, but mostly with Silent Circle's Blackphone series, a brand that made a name for itself in terms of privacy and security for its users.
GATCA Elite series focuses on biometric security and strong encryption
The new GATCA Elite series comes equipped with what the company calls "first-of-its-kind" features like out-of-the-box 256-bit or 512-bit encryption, multiple layers of biometric authentication, and geo-location-based protection that automatically locks down the phone when taken outside of a designated geographical region.
Additionally, if the SIM card is removed and replaced with a new one, the phone also locks down, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive files.
As for its biometric features, the phone's facial recognition system uses a so-called "liveliness" detector, one that can tell when an attacker is trying to fool the phone's camera by trying to authenticate using a picture.
Furthermore, the device also comes with a series of pre-loaded applications, specifically built by Macate with security in mind. These include an encrypted email app, a secure messaging app, and support for encrypted IM, audio, video calls, and video conferences.
The technical specs aren't that bad either
As for the currently advertised technical specs, the phone comes with 2GB of RAM, 16GB & up to 32GB on MicroSD storage, a 5.0" qHD screen at 1280x720 pixels, and an MT6582M 1.3GHz Quad Core CPU.
The spy-proof cyberphone comes in at 139.5*69.55*8.25mm and also includes a 5MP front camera and an 8MP rear camera.
"Our new GATCA Elite cyberphone is a step in the right direction, providing multiple layers of biometric and encryption security," said Isaac Daniel, CEO of Macate. "Users will no longer have to compromise productivity, performance, or aesthetics when choosing a highly secure yet luxury mobile experience."
But don't be fooled by advertisements. A secure cyberphone is as secure as the people and technology behind it allow it to be. Just yesterday, Silent Circle revealed it patched a security hole in its Blackphone 1 model, caused by an improperly configured Icera modem, a technology that NVIDIA bought but later abandoned.
