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Samsung phones cleared for US government use

YOUKYUNG LEE
AP Technology Writer

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday some of its Galaxy mobile devices were approved by the National Security Agency for use with classified U.S. government networks and data, a boost to the company’s efforts to expand in the security-conscious business market.

The South Korean company said the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Note 4 and seven other smartphones or tablets became the first consumer devices validated by a partnership between the National Security Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The validation clears Samsung devices to be considered by U.S. government departments to handle all range of classified information.

The approval comes as Samsung tries to expand in the business market. The company developed KNOX, software for security-conscious business clients. The KNOX software is featured in the Galaxy devices that were approved this time.

Earlier this year, Samsung agreed with Google to include KNOX mobile security software in the next version of Android operating system.

Earlier this year, Samsung mobile devices were approved by the Department of Defense to handle sensitive but unclassified info.

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1 dead, 1 hurt in possible house explosion in Annapolis

One person is dead and one is hurt after what investigators are calling a possible house explosion in Annapolis, Maryland, Wednesday afternoon. Fire crews arrived in the 1100 block of Green Holly Drive shortly after 12:20 p.m. after 911 calls poured in from neighbors, fire officials said. They found what they believed had been a two-story structure, with the second floor collapsed onto the first floor. "There was no fire present, just significant damage, including a debris field that extends about a half a block up the street," Assistant Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Larry Schultz said at a news conference.
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