Apple Watch Banned From U.K. Government Cabinet Meetings Over Hacking Fears

[konqerror]

This just feeds the illusion of security. If they are that concerned about electronic surveillance, there is a lot more to consider.

Does the room have electronic countermeasures to protect against the cabinet member that forgets to leave his phone/watch outside?

Google is your friend
https://www.bvsystems.com/product/wolfhound-pro-cell-phone-detector-bundle/
https://www.bvsystems.com/product/mantis-bluetooth-security-sweeper-bundle/

I actually got the chance to play with one of these in a trade show
http://www.keysight.com/en/pd-10000...tion-system?nid=-32860.536880593&cc=US&lc=eng

I like how everything is an "illusion" of security if people don't like it. If you don't have a policy banning electronic devices, what are you going to have? Everybody is free to bring whatever they want into a secure area? Is that more secure somehow?

 

[pentrix2]

Methinks you missed the main point of my posts, specifically mentioning smartwatches in general....
[doublepost=1476107140][/doublepost]

I never stated a conspiracy against Apple watches, I specifically mentioned the phrasing of these articles, where the Apple product is the one that gets specifically mentioned to generate page clicks. That's how "news" works now. The headlines should state "smartwatches banned" but instead Apple's product is the one specifically mentioned.

DEFCON DEF CON® Hacking Conference

Smart watches are Storages too, they have memory and Bluetooth. Anything with storage and Bluetooth is off limits. Really glad you don't have a TS clearance.

 

[TAZ911]

Couple of things to consider when it comes to security. Very few here know what actual measures are in place when it comes to security measures involving government branches. Unless Hillary is on here soliciting donations to the foundation those that do won't share.

The idea is to control the things you can. Any and all electronic devices that can be used to penetrate the system are left out. This is not some Snowden info leak. It's not specific to a maker or a model. It applies to EVERYTHING. Just cause the author of the article is a retarded monkey doesn't mean we all have to act like some unfair hate is being leveraged against our favorite toy.

Not everything in life is 007 classified. So while the IoT may not be sliced bread when it comes to people dealing in national security, it could actually be useful to the other 95% of the population.

 

[konqerror]

Smart watches are the small thing, they have memory or have storage. Anything with storage is off limits. Really glad you don't have a TS clearance.

And another problem is plausible deniability. If you get caught with a tape recorder or camera, you're busted, but if you get caught with a cell phone or watch, you "forgot".

 

[NT1440]

Why are you going on about something as trivial mentioning the Apple Watch? Does mentioning the AW drive more attention than saying generic smartwatches? Yup. That's a knife that cuts both ways. Are you as equally upset when an article appears that states something is compatible with the AW but fails to mention the same compatibility with other smartwatches? Or are you just as upset when an article states Samsung phones can catch fire instead of saying smartphones can catch fire? Did it ever occur to you that the Apple Watch was mentioned specifically because that's the watch that was specifically worn?

I'm "upset" when tech journalists can't seem to actually get the facts straight. Take the samsung production "halt", that's not actually what's happening but its going around the internet like wildfire right now.

 

[dotnet]

A) Have all smart watches been banned or just Apple Watch? I'm trying to read the tea leaves as to whether May's government has some specific intel on the Apple Watch or has just deemed any smart watch with a mic to be a threat.

Relax, Samsung smartwatches are banned, too. Not for being of any use to spies, but for being a fire hazard

 

[NT1440]

Smart watches are Storages too, they have memory and Bluetooth. Anything with storage and Bluetooth is off limits. Really glad you don't have a TS clearance.

Is there a reason you're intentionally missing the point of what I'm posting? Of course nothing with storage should be allowed in, that wasn't the point I was making.

 

[pentrix2]

And another problem is plausible deniability. If you get caught with a tape recorder or camera, you're busted, but if you get caught with a cell phone or watch, you "forgot".

Both will get you fire on the spot. Also both are confiscated and will not be return to you. Depending what's in the storage device can and will lead to prosecution. If you don't agree then I'm glad you didn't.
[doublepost=1476112303][/doublepost]

Is there a reason you're intentionally missing the point of what I'm posting? Of course nothing with storage should be allowed in, that wasn't the point I was making.

Really? This is not a negotiation, there are no gray areas. Black and white. A person can argue all they want but 100% of the time the person will be arguing jobless. even more glad you don't hold a TS. Clearly you don't

 

[NT1440]

Really? This is not a negotiation, there are no gray areas. Black and white. A person can argue all they want but 100% of the time the person will be arguing jobless. even more glad you don't hold a TS. Clearly you don't

What in the hell are you talking about? Really? I don't follow.

What black and white are you talking about? Smartwatches aren't and shouldn't be allowed in these types of meetings.

Do you have my posts confused with somebody else?


Disputing "hacks" to the Apple Watch have nothing to do with not allowing all smartwatches into meetings that need to remain secure, they're two different topics. So again, I ask you, what are you going on about?

 

[Urban Joe]

Bugging and spying is now universally mainstream. They call it the "internet of things." Like my boss said, you have to be smarter than the tool in your hand....sadly most aren't.

 

[pentrix2]

What in the hell are you talking about? Really? I don't follow.

What black and white are you talking about? Smartwatches aren't and shouldn't be allowed in these types of meetings.

Do you have my posts confused with somebody else?


Disputing "hacks" to the Apple Watch have nothing to do with not allowing all smartwatches into meetings that need to remain secure, they're two different topics. So again, I ask you, what are you going on about?

Ok....

 

[Floris]

Siri can barely understand what I tell her I don't know how Russians think that they can steal government secrets through a Watch.

Their systems are a joke and have backdoors, something they rather want. Than a watch that's an endpoint.

 

[magicschoolbus]

Just set up a private server instead! Nothing to see here, folks!

 

[CarlJ]

Can’t the Communists just hide a microphone in a hollowed out regular watch?

If it's hollowed out, it's no longer a functional watch. If it isn't a functioning watch, why did the person put it on that morning? This isn't about sneaking a recording device into a secret meeting - if someone is knowingly / conspiratorially sneaking it in, they could just as well, you know, remember what was said and divulge it later. It's about tricking someone into carrying a listening device into the meeting without their knowledge.

But, yeah, if you're confiscating smartwatches and smartphones on the way in, everything else the person has could stand some scrutiny.
[doublepost=1476123142][/doublepost]If what is being banned is "Apple Watches" and not "smart watches / fitness trackers in general", then there is some idiocy involved in the decision making process.

 

[MacknTosh]

So wait, the UK who wants to spy on everyone else, doesn't like it when done to them? Just making sure I got it. “Operation Karma Police"

Irony.

What's ironic is that you could replace 'UK' for any other country and it would still be a valid statement.

 

[Rajani Isa]

Can’t the Communists just hide a microphone in a hollowed out regular watch?

The idea is it's harder to ID a smartwatch as compromised, and easier than swapping out someone's watch without them knowing

 

[ricci]

The Russians just amaze me ! They are superior in technology for hacking and criminal activity. But no phone,no cars,no airplanes no comp/chips, no Electronics, no appliances, ???? nothing. Imagine what they can build if they actually use some of this technology for Russian products? Ok,ok,ok, they do have space travel!!

 

[GadgetBen]

I agree with everyone on here about the idiotic journalism behind the original article.

The UK government use iPads in their offices, so it's not a hacking fear from Russia. It's basic security measures for top level meetings. Simple as that.

• Peter Dominiczak is the author.

 

[dampfnudel]

This just feeds the illusion of security. If they are that concerned about electronic surveillance, there is a lot more to consider. For starters, I assume that phones and other electronic devices capable of storing or recording information are stored outside the room? Does the room have electronic countermeasures to protect against the cabinet member that forgets to leave his phone/watch outside? What about secret issue discussed outside of the cabinet meetings? What if they emailed something to Hillary?

Thanks for my evening laugh.

 

[mazz0]

I can't believe people are saying this is hypocritical. Of COURSE people who want to spy on others want to stop others spying on themselves. I imagine when they're in a war they also try to avoid their own side getting killed while trying to kill the enemy.

Anyway, does is mean no in the meetings either? So everything has to be on ? What a pain in the arse.

 

[CedricT]

I guess all is good then if you haven't heard of it being done. Thank god we have the arbiter of security among us.

I'm sorry, have you been shown a case of the watch being compromised to be used as a listening device? I haven't, and I watch things like the Defcon conferences and CCC. This seems like one of those gin'ed up stories about how all smartwatches are banned because of the shady **** that goes on with malware on Android, and the Apple Watch taking the headline due to the laziness of tech reporting today.

 

[nnoble]

So basically governments are finally starting to follow the same security protocols as corporations. It's about damn time.

Yes. And quite possibly Prime Ministers, like CEOs, get really irritated by airheads in their presence being unable to focus on the job in hand because they're always fiddling with their damn toys. Imagine if every 'device' had the potential deterrence of a Note 7. Brilliant!

 

[Bubble99]

This just feeds the illusion of security. If they are that concerned about electronic surveillance, there is a lot more to consider. For starters, I assume that phones and other electronic devices capable of storing or recording information are stored outside the room? Does the room have electronic countermeasures to protect against the cabinet member that forgets to leave his phone/watch outside? What about secret issue discussed outside of the cabinet meetings? What if they emailed something to Hillary?

They have own private network so NO CONCERN of say malware on the computer or network being compromised by outside security breach.

Only way to to see what is on their computer or e-mail is to walk into the building and hack from in side. You cannot hack from the outside. They have own closed of private network.

 

[gnasher729]

I'm "upset" when tech journalists can't seem to actually get the facts straight. Take the samsung production "halt", that's not actually what's happening but its going around the internet like wildfire right now.

First the Note 7 was going around like wildfire, and now the news of a production stop goes round like wildfire.

 

[Rajani Isa]

Smart watches are Storages too, they have memory and Bluetooth. Anything with storage and Bluetooth is off limits. Really glad you don't have a TS clearance.

NT understands that. What he is saying is that by calling out Apple Watches, he feels that the article and it's title are just click-baiting. That the article only refers to Apple Watches, and makes it seem like only the AW was banned. Which if the people behind the policy have half a brain, isn't so - that all smartwatches would be banned.