The Bitbox02 Nova brings its own remote communication system, called whisper.
Bitbox02 can go unnoticed in normal environments by a USB device.
Bitbox, the Wallets Hardware Company based in Zurich, Switzerland, announced the arrival of the Bitbox02 Nova. The announcement was made on social networks on June 20. This Wallet brings “security with an improved design and greater compatibility”, as it works with iPhone and iPad.
The Nova version, what It has a price of 168 dollars And it is in pre-order phase through the official websitealso provides greater compatibility than the previous version of the company, as it can work on several operating systems and connect with the new Bitboxapp. This is a complementary application that allows you to buy, ensure and use more than 1,500 cryptocurrencies supported by the Bitbox02 Nova.
This application brings improved navigation elements, “such as the new starting navigation bar, which allows rapid access to the general description of the portfolio, accounts and configuration.”
For the first time, a Bitbox hardware wallet can be used with the new bitboxapp on iPhone and iPad, which makes Bitbox02 Nova compatible with all the main device platforms. Bitbox, Swiss Wallet Hardware Company.
Bitbox, Swiss Wallet Hardware Company.
The previous Wallet hardware only had USB connectivity. The Nova version is connected by USB and Bluetooth, although the presentation of the device implies that this last type of nearby communication system is only available on the mentioned Apple devices.
The Bitbox02 It brings a standard OLED screen, while the new Wallet integrates an OLED with improved temperate glass substrate, to verify transactions, according to the launch information. These oled glass screens are less flexible than plastic, but in return they are ideal for large screens that prioritize visualization and longevity, since this material is more durable.
Despite the improvements of this new model, the Bitbox02 Nova drags several essential characteristics of the original Wallet. «Included simple backup copies and recovery with microSD cards, optional password phrase and advanced security protocols such as Anti-Clepto«.
At the time of the writing, it is available in two colors: black midnight, the only color available in the original Bitbox02, and Polar White. There will be two editions of the Wallet: one Dedicated for Bitcoin, with reduced firmware, and a multi -active, more customizable.
OPTIGA Trust m v3 of Infineon
One of the novelties is that it implements a safe element chip without confidentiality agreements, which promotes transparency. It is a OPTIGA Trust m v3 of the German manufacturer Infineonwhich has a Insurance level (EAL) 6+considered one of the highest in the industry.
The EAL is a system used to classify the security level of a physical device against various security threats, according to Bitbox. The EAL level does not measure system safety itself, but the level of Common Criteria in which they performed the Wallet hardware tests.
Bitbox02 Nova includes, as its predecessor, a double chip architecture. In Bitbox’s words, this guarantees that open source firmware remains separate from the Safe chipwhich eliminates the need for trust. “This combines the best of both worlds: transparent and auditable firmware with the physical protection imposed by the safe chip,” says the company.
The new safe element is also stricter against unauthorized attempts to unlock the physical device:
Previously, Bitbox02 would be restored to factory configuration after 10 failed attempts to enter the device password through a firmware limit. Now, the new safe element also imposes that same limit with a hardware counter, which makes physical attacks even more difficult.
Bitbox, Swiss Wallet Hardware Company.
The Bitbox blog introduction He assures that this Wallet hardware brings a communication protocol called whisper, which addresses, to overcome them, “the strict restrictions imposed on USB communication by Apple.”
Among other things, Whisper It allows the connections to authenticate and encrypt end to end after matching the device to another. The protocol works with an open source Bluetooth firmware created by Bitbox, which gives an extra security layer to communications. Even more interesting, the Wallet Nova deliberately uses a low intensity wireless recognition, so that Only device signals can be detected one meter away. This decreases the probability of unauthorized connections by Bluetooth.
Another utility of the Bitbox02 Nova firmware is that when the Wallet receives data from the Bitboxapp Through USB, The chip that controls the Bluetooth connectivity turns off, preventing any subsequent connection by this route.
Bitbox are wallet hardware known for unnoticed in normal environments. Its external image, which with the naked eye replicates that of a common USB, has incited interesting anecdotes. One of them says that a user, together with an entire Reddit community, confused a Bitbox02 With a microSD card reader.
