North Korean Android tablet lacks Wi-Fi and does not allow opening third-party files

Participants at the hacker convention Chaos Communication Congress were able to get acquainted with the Woolim tablet, intended for users from North Korea, reports Motherboard .

Woolim is not the only tablet available in North Korea, but it is one of the latest devices that local users can purchase. The gadget is a small white Android tablet that looks no different from similar devices. The tablet is manufactured by the Chinese company Hoozo, but in the DPRK some components are removed from it, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules, and special software is installed.

According to researchers who reviewed the device and received the tablet from an unnamed South Korean NGO, its functionality is significantly limited. Thus, its firmware allows you to open or play only those files that have the necessary cryptographic signature. This attribute applies to files created by the device itself (for example, photographs), as well as files approved by the DPRK censorship.

“I would say that for an ordinary user in the DPRK it is almost impossible to overcome the cryptographic algorithm,” said expert Florian Grunow.

By default, the tablet is equipped with a PDF manual, a collection of propaganda texts, and an application for connecting to a local TV service and the North Korean Internet. Also on the device you can find dictionaries, an application that teaches children how to use the keyboard, and several games, including a modified version of Angry Birds.

In addition, the tablet constantly monitors the owner’s actions - every time the user opens an application, the device takes a screenshot. These pictures are viewable in a separate application and cannot be deleted. "It's a clear message: 'We're watching what you do,'" Grunow said.

According to the expert, the cost of a Woolim tablet from a Chinese manufacturer is about 160-200 euros, and in the DPRK the device should cost even more. Apparently, only a few residents of the country can afford such a purchase.