Here’s why James Bond never uses an iPhone in movies

With Dying Can Wait in Dark Theaters, James Bond returns to center stage. Agent 007 is accompanied by the Nokia 8.3 5G fruit of a partnership between the brand and the license. Our colleagues from Wired wondered about the relevance of such a product compared to the iPhone.

The James Bond saga was also well known by its various incarnations of the British agent as by its partnerships. Each film opus gives the opportunity to highlight brands through scenes. Among the brands, we can cite Omega, Aston Martin or even today Nokia. The biggest partnership of HMD Global puts in the hands of agents of MI6, three devices of the manufacturer. Is an Android phone safer for a spy than using an iPhone. James Hadley, founder of Immersive Labs, a cybersecurity company, thinks Apple phones wouldn’t be a good option.

Agent 007 regularly uses smartphones in his missions

In the new film, three phones from the Finnish manufacturer are highlighted: the 3310, the 7.2 and the 8.3 5G. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic having postponed the film’s release, the partnership with Nokia is still in place. It is still necessary to wonder about the relevance of having such a smartphone in the equipment of a secret agent. Indeed, despite the manufacturer’s promises in terms of security, the various possible flaws due to the operating system can compromise 007. A few months earlier, the Pegasus software was the illustration since even the heads of state were monitored. Likewise, the possibility of seeing Her Majesty’s agent using a cell phone is excluded. This would then not have access to basic applications concocted by Q.

For James Hadley, the role of Q is thus preponderant: “ If Bond is given an old Android phone, he should check that Q has updated the operating system to guard against new software vulnerabilities. It is not the first time, however, that the supplier of gadgets has given smartphones to the secret agent. In Quantum of Solace, he uses a Sony Ericsson C902. We also remind you that in Tomorrow Never Dies, Pierce Brosnan uses an Ericsson DT 360 LECT to remotely control his car. The use of an old smartphone would also be excluded for the former member of the government telecommunications services. ” Some people think that the use of “dumb phones”, that is, pre-smartphone devices less dependent on software, protects them.“, He explains. ” However, this would obviously limit Bond’s ability to use even the most basic internet applications.. “

James Bond with iPhone would not be protected from Pegasus spyware

Therefore a question arises, why James Bond would not use an iPhone during his missions? Apple regularly communicates on the security of iOS within its devices. According to Jake Moore, cybersecurity expert at ESET, the option is not possible: “ The security of an iPhone is pretty impressive for the normal user, but with threats like Pegasus, it is difficult for a spy to use it safely and with confidence. In reality, smartphones with sensitive data are protected by in-house software. Crosscall equips the French police officers and entrusts the operating system of smartphones to the Orange Business Services software.

Especially since Apple is very reluctant to let an outside body touch its internal software. Many attacks recall the latent tensions between the FBI and the firm of Tim Cook. The latter refusing to give investigators the keys to access the criminals’ iPhones. Unthinkable that an organization like MI6 had the privilege of dealing directly with the engineers of the firm.

For the record, two different sources had explained to me that initially, James Bond had to use a Samsung Galaxy Fold in “Die can wait”.

But in the end the deal was not done … https://t.co/BpO9m6FwZh

– Raphael Grably (@GrablyR) September 28, 2021

Reality is once again a big deal. As Raphaël Grably, Head of Tech at BFM.TV, indicates, the Samsung Galaxy Fold was to be the secret agent’s initial smartphone. Apple has already put its nose into the secret agent’s license. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the director Rian Johnson, the Cupertino company refuses that in a film, the villain is filmed in possession of an iPhone.

You will understand, if James Bond has so far never used an Apple phone in the films, it is because the company has seen fit not to enter into partnerships with the license. Especially since the various adventures of the agent would have undermined the solidity of the phones, with a more than consequent cascade budget to the key.

Source: Wired