How The Tablet Verifies The Boot Rom Code; How The Tablet Manages Software Updates - Blackberry PlayBook Security Technical Overview

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Security Technical Overview

How the tablet verifies the boot ROM code

The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet uses an authentication method that is designed to verify that the boot ROM code

is permitted to run on the tablet. The manufacturing process installs the boot ROM code in the memory on the

tablet and the RIM signing authority system uses an RSA public key to sign the boot ROM code. The tablet stores

information that it can use to verify the digital signature of the boot ROM code.

When a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet user turns on a tablet, it runs internal ROM code that reads the boot ROM

from memory and verifies the digital signature of the boot ROM code using the RSA public key. If the verification

process completes, the boot ROM is permitted to run on the tablet. If the verification process cannot complete,

the tablet stops running.

Applications that a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet user installs on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet are located in the

personal file system and the applications can only operate in personal mode. Only the user can update

applications that operate in personal mode; the user cannot change the applications to make them operate in

work mode. An administrator cannot update applications that operate in personal mode.

How the tablet verifies the boot ROM code

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