I remember when data breaches were a concept foreign to me, because I held a truly encrypted device in my grasp—an original Blackberry. It's a personal nightmare I've experienced: multiple data breaches, which from my conviction, would have been avoidable with a Blackberry. Undoubtedly, these devices were the epitome of innovation, offering a level of encryption that I miss in today's smartphone era.

Original Blackberry phones were recognized for their advanced security features, creating a wall against the ever-increasing wave of data breaches. According to a study by Javelin Strategy & Research in 2017, the cost of identity fraud reached $16 billion, affecting 15.4 million U.S. consumers¹. Considering such numbers, the demand for a secure phone like the Blackberry is still highly relevant.

In 2024, I became the victim of a ruthless digital scam. A fraudulent loan app called "Score You" lured me in with false promises and manipulated user permissions to access everything on my phone—call logs, contacts, gallery, messages, and more. When I tried to uninstall the app, I was blackmailed into paying INR 22,000, under the threat that my private data would be exposed to my entire contact list. The emotional stress and helplessness I felt during that time was something I never thought I’d have to endure. Had I been using a Blackberry, with its enterprise-grade security and permission controls, I truly believe this wouldn’t have happened.

That wasn’t the only incident. Simply visiting a real estate website to check out a few properties led to a bombardment of spam calls and unwanted marketing messages for weeks. My data had clearly been scraped, sold, or shared without my consent—yet another reminder of how vulnerable our digital lives have become in this surveillance-driven smartphone ecosystem.

But amidst these critical needs, production of Blackberry phones was discontinued, leaving users like me in a macrocosm of insecurity. The original Blackberry was more than just a phone; it represented a shield, a protector of our valuable information vis-a-vis data breaches.

Therefore, this is a call to all those who valued their data, privacy, and saw the merit in what the original Blackberry brought to the table. Our united voice can reverse this trend, compelling the company to bring back the device we so desperately need in this modern age of cyber threats.

Let’s bring back our trusted Blackberry.
Your signature can make this change possible.

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¹ Source: Javelin Strategy & Research, 2017