Mobile security start-up, Whisper Systems, has been acquired by Twitter.
Whisper Systems has developed a number of mobile security products, including encryption and backup systems for Android smartphones.
The start-up is a two-man band consisting of respected CTO Moxie Marlinspike and roboticist Stuart Anderson. TechCrunch notes the deal has “talent acquisition” written all over it.
Twitter is not known for its security. In March, the site reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over charges of failing to adequately safeguard user information.
In a blog post announcing the acquisition of Whisper Systems, the developers say: “We started Whisper Systems with the goal of improving security and privacy for mobile devices.
“We were attracted to this not only because we saw it as an opportunity to reinvent the security solutions that never really worked in the PC environment to begin with, but also because the stakes are much higher - due to the nature of mobile devices themselves - and we didn't like the way that things were looking.
software, as our users know it, will live on, but there is unfortunately a transition period where we will have to temporarily take our products and services offline.”
Whisper Systems says RedPhone, a call encryption service for Android, will be interrupted immediately. FlashBack, which provides encrypted backup for Android, will still be available for a month.
Other products offered by Whisper Systems include software firewall WhisperMonitor, encrypted text messaging service TextSecure and phone security for Nexus, WhisperCore.
Twitter has made several acquisitions this year, including social media analytics start-up Julpan, TweetDeck and Backtype.
Twitter has not divulged any details about what Whisper Systems will be doing at the micro-blogging site, but said in a statement: “As part of our fast-growing engineering team, they will be bringing their technology and security expertise to Twitter's products and services.”
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