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Diane Bondareff/AP/Press Association Images

Nokia was blackmailed into paying millions to criminals back in 2008

The criminals acquired the encryption key for a core part of Nokia’s Symbian software, and threatened to make it public if their demands weren’t met.

NOKIA WAS FORCED to pay several million euro to criminals who had threatened to leak the source code that was used in its phones six years ago.

The Finnish police told local TV station MTV that it was investigating the case, which happened in 2008, and that the case was still open.

According to Reuters, the blackmailers had acquired the encryption key for a core part of Nokia’s Symbian software and threatened to make it public.

If this happened, it would have allowed anyone to write additional code for the operating system, including possible malware which would have been indistinguishable from the actual software.

Nokia agreed to deliver the cash to a parking lot for collection, but not before it notified the police about the situation. However, while the money was picked up, the police lost track of the criminals after it happened.

At the time, Symbian’s market share was roughly 50% as the software was used by a number of manufacturers. Nokia later replaced Symbian with Windows Phone in 2011 when it launched its Lumia smartphone range.

Nokia’s mobile phone business was bought by Microsoft earlier this year for €5.4 billion. When the deal was completed, Microsoft said that it would help “accelerate innovation and market adoption for Windows Phones.”

Read: Would you give up your smartphone….for this? >

Read: Apple has dodged a massive $840 million price-fixing court case >

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4 Comments
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    Mute David Harries
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    Feb 15th 2018, 9:24 AM

    That’s a sentence

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    Mute kevinhunt101
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    Feb 15th 2018, 11:21 AM

    @David Harries: life without possibility of parole would be better but 40 years is a start! Irish system could learn! Start with doubling most sentences given seems about right

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    Mute Thn
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    Feb 15th 2018, 11:46 AM

    @kevinhunt101: The problem with the Irish System is that there is an over emphasis on custodial sentences for non-violent/serious crimes. If more people were given suspend sentences which involved monitoring and work for the state then it would (I) potentially self-fund itself (ii) reduce the overcrowding problem with our prisons.

    This would then free up the necessary space for the people who are an actual danger to society to be imprisoned for longer.

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    Mute kevinhunt101
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    Feb 15th 2018, 12:09 PM

    @Thn: agree, large fines and compulsory payments (taken from income source) for non violent crimes need to be implemented! Free up prison space for non violent crimes! Also more solitary confinement for violent and repeat offenders. Planned murder should be min 40 years no possibility of parole, no good behavior taken into account, no good family person etc etc! Multiple murders should be death penalty, reduce costs to state. Are they really sorry, no if they committed 2 or more murders.

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    Mute johnp
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    Feb 15th 2018, 9:51 AM

    He had molested the girl who survived when she was 13 but her family chose to believe him

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    Mute The Viking
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    Feb 15th 2018, 9:26 AM

    Some down right sick puppies out there. Well done for sentence handed down.

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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Feb 15th 2018, 10:25 AM

    Should be out to death. Simple.

    93
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Feb 15th 2018, 10:05 AM

    What a beautiful young woman. What an utterly sick, monster. A life sentence seems generous

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    Mute johnp
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    Feb 15th 2018, 3:07 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: yeah Dave sexist pig monster

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    Mute johnp
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    Feb 15th 2018, 3:09 PM

    @Sandra O’Fucáif: on a different note Sandra are u still claiming that there are thousands of Egyptian Copts living here like illegally

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    Mute Hans Vos
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    Feb 15th 2018, 10:51 PM

    @johnp: I think that Sandra need a new avatar.

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    Mute Range Rover
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    Feb 15th 2018, 10:58 PM

    @Sandra O’Fucáif: oh move along

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    Mute David Conroy
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    Feb 15th 2018, 11:36 AM

    The Chinese have the right idea. Why keep this bit of trash alive when one in the back of the head would release millions of Pounds to improve the Health Service !

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    Mute Barry O Neill
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    Feb 15th 2018, 9:39 AM

    Really really evil, this guy should just be shot.

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    Mute Elizabeth Hourihane
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    Feb 15th 2018, 12:30 PM

    What a beaitiful woman and waste of a lfe.. sentencing is just and we need to review our sentences here which is a joke tbh.

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    Mute Pl O'neill
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    Feb 15th 2018, 1:42 PM

    That fella was no addition to any country !

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    Mute Marty Gormley
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    Feb 15th 2018, 3:02 PM

    40 years is a joke. Should be tortured for 40 years

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    Mute john
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    Feb 15th 2018, 10:33 AM

    Just kill the sick f##ker

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    Mute Joseph Devine
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    Feb 15th 2018, 11:12 AM

    @john: and do it nice and slowly.

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    Mute Joe Byrne
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    Feb 16th 2018, 8:42 PM

    Ain’t Multiculturalism great.

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