Apple argues stronger encryption will thwart criminals in letter to Australian government
Apple has long been a proponent for strong on-device encryption, most notably for its iPhones and the iOS operating system. This has often frustrated law enforcement agencies both in the US and overseas, many of which claim the company's encryption tools and policies are letting criminals avoid capture by masking communications and securing data from the hands of investigators.
Now, in a letter to the Australian government, Apple says it thinks encryption is in fact a benefit and public good that will only strength our protections against cyberattacks and terrorism. In Apple's eyes, encryption makes everyone's devices harder to hack and less vulnerable to take-overs, viruses, and other malicious attacks that could undermine personal and corporate security, as well as public infrastructure and services. Apple is specifically responding to the Australian Parliament's Assistance and Access Bill, which was introduced late last month and is designed to help the government more easily access the devices and data of criminals during active investigations.
Letter here (#53), or at Scribd and DocumentCloud.
Also at Ars Technica, Engadget, 9to5Mac, and AppleInsider.
Police told to avoid looking at recent iPhones to avoid lockouts
Police have yet to completely wrap their heads around modern iPhones like the X and XS, and that's clearer than ever thanks to a leak. Motherboard has obtained a presentation slide from forensics company Elcomsoft telling law enforcement to avoid looking at iPhones with Face ID. If they gaze at it too many times (five), the company said, they risk being locked out much like Apple's Craig Federighi was during the iPhone X launch event. They'd then have to enter a passcode that they likely can't obtain under the US Constitution's Fifth Amendment, which protects suspects from having to provide self-incriminating testimony.
Also at 9to5Mac.
Related:
California Lawmaker Tries Hand at Banning Encryption
New York Judge Sides with Apple Rather than FBI in Dispute over a Locked iPhone
FBI Chief Calls for National Talk Over Encryption vs. Safety
Hacker Decrypts Apple's Secure Enclave Processor (SEP) Firmware
Federal Court Rules That the FBI Does Not Have to Disclose Name of iPhone Hacking Vendor
Law Enforcement Agencies Increasingly Cracking iPhones Using "GrayKey"
Australian Government Pursues "Golden Key" for Encryption
When's A Backdoor Not A Backdoor? When The Oz Government Says It Isn't
Five Eyes Governments Get Even Tougher on Encryption
FBI Used Cooperative Suspect's Face to Unlock His iPhone
(Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 14 2018, @12:38PM (6 children)
The easiest way to trigger an iPhone to require its passcode is to turn it off. So when you get pulled over (or are approaching a border checkpoint) turn it off. Once the phone is booted it will not accept a fingerprint or face ID the first time it is unlocked.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by legont on Sunday October 14 2018, @01:37PM (5 children)
Yet another reason among countless that I like disappeared power switch; the one that would cut the power right away.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by hemocyanin on Sunday October 14 2018, @02:54PM (4 children)
I want a phone that has physical switches for each part (not just momentary switches which software interprets as a signal to shutdown, but the type that psychically breaks the connection). A bunch of dip switches under a little cover to control bluetooth, wifi, cell, gps, camera, mic, sound, and of course, a nice large power button for the whole thing.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Sunday October 14 2018, @03:45PM (2 children)
OMG: psychically == physically.
I'm going back to bed.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Sunday October 14 2018, @03:46PM (1 child)
Holy fuck: psychically = physically.
I'm shutting down now.
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 14 2018, @04:08PM
If only there was a physical switch to make that easy ...
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 15 2018, @03:57AM
Some phones support NFC. You can use NFC to trigger tasks:
https://www.reddit.com/r/tasker/comments/86m38y/how_do_you_best_use_nfc_tags/ [reddit.com]
https://www.androidauthority.com/nfc-trigger-tasker-409686/ [androidauthority.com]
The real problem is Google - they seem to be reducing what you can do with the phone without rooting it.
And lots of apps don't work if the phone is rooted.