Privoro, a tech hardware company based out of Chandler, AZ, was founded as a direct response to the 2013 release of classified information revealing the chilling nature of several worldwide government surveillance programs, and how pervasive (yet totally cloaked) their presence had become. Their first product release, then, comes as no surprise. The company has built a "case" that functions as a multi-faceted privacy guard for the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6S. The result of 30+ mechanical, electrical, and acoustical engineers as well as numerous published patents -- this case is not kidding around.
For one, this extreme accessory comes outfitted with a hood that physically blocks the rear and front view cameras, still allowing the user access for when they actually choose to use it, voluntarily. Unknown to many iPhone users, the cameras embedded in the phone can be hacked and remotely operated, without displaying any indication to the owner. There's some creepy food for thought.
Far more impressive, however, is the case's capacity to actually jam your phone conversations with randomized noise transmissions imperceptible to either party in the phone call, but a first-of-its-kind blockade for anyone attempting to hijack the audio for recording or eavesdropping purposes. Additionally, the case itself blocks any radio transmission frequencies that might intercept geo-locational data points by forming a fully-functional Faraday cage around the phone itself.
This company takes your privacy seriously enough to utilize something you have to Google, just to ensure it's that physically impenetrable.
“Most people say, ‘I’ve got nothing to hide, what do I care?’ But the reality is you have everything to protect,” said Privoro CEO and founder, Mike Fong. “Would you give out your email password, password to all your social media accounts, your bank account information, account numbers and logins?”
Fong makes a good point, and likely a good business, as well. True privacy is worth its weight in gold, and for some, so is a phone case. The Privoro pre-orders are available now for a cool $999. You probably never thought you'd be looking at a phone case and on a more principled note: can we really even put a price tag on it? Indeed, choosing to use mobile technology is a luxury in itself, but beyond the financial costs already built it, have we collectively given passive consent to compromise our rights as individuals?
There's more to privacy than just data-snatching and hacking code, of course, and that's where our own challenge, Silent Speaking comes in. If you've got a passion for privacy, check out what they're dreaming up in the realm of real-time, three-dimensional sound blocking!
