Twitter recently acquired Whisper Systems, a company focused on the business of mobile security solutions--specifically for Android smart phones. Both companies have yet to comment on what Twitter plans to do with its acquired technologies; however, it is pretty obvious that Twitter will be upping its mobile security. Twitter hasn't been part of the vanguard when it comes to addressing security concerns. Perhaps they are courting small and midsize businesses (SMBs), which always prefer higher security, especially when it comes to mobile commerce.

A Quick Look at WhisperCore

One service that this mobile security company offers is WhisperCore, which fully encrypts Android phone disks and offers management tools. It also allows you to redact certain app permissions while still being able to use the app. It apparently has a feature to discourage thieves by altering the unlock feature. Most Android phones have rows of dots that you have to slide your finger across in a specific pattern, but Whisper Systems assessed that thieves might guess that pattern by looking at finger smudges on the screen. In response, they change the unlock to just one column of numbers to prevent them from know the order based on smudges. For an individual, WhisperCore is free--but that is not the case for businesses. Whisper Systems also offers voice encryption, text encryption, data backup encryption, and firewalls. Despite a lack of information on what Twitter is planning, Whisper Systems has made it clear they still plan on offering their normal services. However, while they are transitioning, their services will be down, according to InfoWorld.

Impressions of Whispered Tweets

It is hard to say exactly what Twitter will do. Yes, you know that it will have something to do with Twitter's mobile web site and security. But how, exactly, could they possibly integrate Whisper Systems' offerings into their site? It's possible that they will incorporate Whisper's unlock feature or something similar, into the login function. It's possible they will encrypt mobile Tweets. Or, they might work with Whisper Systems to develop something entirely new.

Either way, there's no denying that just as Facebook has become an integral part of e-commerce, so has Twitter. There are few ways of getting around it while still keeping an edge. Any way that Twitter can use this technology will hopefully improve Twitter's stability. Just because it's not a complete security disaster doesn't mean there haven't been security incident: accounts getting hacked, for instance. Besides, the Internet, in all its forms--though especially its social media--is a long way from being "too secure", and SMBs will hopefully be able to breathe a little easier if Whisper Systems really brings something valuable to the table.