Privacy Advocates Cite NSA Hack as Vindication of Apple's Fight With FBI

[citysnaps]

Anyone with two brain cells saw this a mile away.

I guess that says something about other smartphone manufacturers and the other phone OS that powers them.

Always thought it was extremely telling that when testifying before congress earlier this year, the NYC district attorney only has a problem with being able to get into Apple phones, having a few hundred (and growing) that were seized but not accessible.

 

[0004838]

No offence America but I SERIOUSLY suggest you vet your security agency staff better!

A morally suspect organisation cannot employ those with high morals and expect to continue to act in a morally suspect manner. It's paradoxical.

 

[alexgowers]

I agree with the sentiment. If you build a tool, it'll get out somehow. You just can't build it ever. That is regardless of who holds the code be it apple or FBI or a 3rd party, it will get out. That is what apple was fighting against.

 

[S.B.G]

Seems like the FBI suffered from a bit of government arrogance in thinking that "software wouldn't get into the wrong hands." It didn't take too long for the agency that is heralded as the best in what they do to be compromised somewhat deflating the FBI's credibility on this front.

 

[decafjava]

So is Snowden a real traitor now? Just asking. So many people lauded him, and Assange, as 'Heroes', and now they seem to be Russia's bitches... Were they all along? It's odd that Russia has become the world leader in attacks on America, especially in an election year. Damn, too coincidental...

Sonwden came down pretty hard on recent Russian legislation greatly expanding that country's surveillance reach as well. Don't have the link on hand.

 

[jav6454]

These are examples of why encryption needs to be strengthened, not make it weaker for the givernment.

 

[Essenar]

Should say something about the state of governmental IT projects/security when the flipping NSA gets its data stolen.

Quick everybody, buy tons of 128GB iPhone 5S/6/6s's and store all the data on that!

You act like they care about the security of the data once they've obtained it.

 

[BvizioN]

Hey after Brexit, it's cute you still claim UK is EU.... Now the stupid government can have thier way

Since you so good with "facts", here is one for you. UK is still EU until it have officially completed the exit.
But anyway, if you did care to read my comment above, I never claimed UK is EU. I said Europe, which for the ones who are mature enough to know one or 2 things about the world, is a continent and UK just happen to be in that continent

 

[oneMadRssn]

Based on what evidence? I work for a UK university. Believe me, they take data security and privacy very seriously indeed.

Agreed. Also, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights includes mentions of the right to privacy in several areas, but especially in Article 7: "Everyone has the right to respect for his or her private and family life, home and communications." The EU has all sorts of laws about exporting personally identifying data out of the EU, and many prohibitions about storing such data abroad. It's a really good framework.

 

[thermodynamic]

So.. they wanted Apples backdoor exploit and stated that they would "keep it safe and secure" but couldn't keep their own "safe and secure"? K.

Let's find out who stole it first, then ask. Maybe they don't have allegiance to government but to Tim Cook and wanted to make him look better? We don't know either way.
[doublepost=1471877250][/doublepost]

And you know it wouldn't have lasted long, the government ordered back door. The first time someone 'big' had their iPhone hacked, they would be demanding a 'hardened' iPhone with no back door, or would be rushing to kill it somehow.

They only wanted the back door, apparently, because the script kiddies at the NSA couldn't figure out how to hack it. It's sloppy. Like having programs and apps that are over 200MB. It's sloppy coding, and lazy programmers.

Probably because "time is money" and "wasteful government spending so let's cut costs until bridges collapse, code gets broken into", etc.

But people can go on and keep bashing all but the people who actually committed the crime like how they're not supposed to. May as well praise the criminal who raped the rape victim and blame her for wearing a dress perceived as being "inviting" because the parallel is absolutely no different.

 

[intofx]

I would never update if backdoors were given to governments.

 

[Tech198]

Oops. Wish I could say this news was surprising. It was only a matter of time.

Yep..... Apple did the right thing as well with iOS, however it may have sparked some "attention" when they decided to go public.

 

[wizard]

Lowering the collective average of the ages of congress party members, by cutting the old and employing younger tech-savvier members, would be a good start.

Unfortunately that wouldn't help much because the majority of people running for congress are idiots no matter their age. People with any talent beyond shoveling BS stay far away political landscape.

 

[bdkennedy1]

Wow! A whole university? You must know everything!

Based on what evidence? I work for a UK university. Believe me, they take data security and privacy very seriously indeed.

 

[wizard]

It would, but to get there younger people need regularly vote in congressional elections, especially the midterm election between presidential campaigns. By staying home, they guarantee that the voters with greatest turnout/influence are the senior citizens, our least informed voters (judging by how they are Trump's staunchest supporters).

Actually most of the people supporting Trump are very well informed. We may not agree with every aspect of his campainge but we rather that he admits to the problems we have as a nation.

One of the big problems is the public debt which is massive. It is something that must be addressed particularly considering how much of the debt China owes.

The other big problem is excessive immigration. This has a greater negative impact on the poor and working Americans and frankly seems to be the policy of the Democrats to harm this part of the electorate.

So let's put it this way, anybody that believes that the Democrates have done anything positive in this country over the last 8 years is woefully uninformed. I could go on and on about other policies that have done serious harm to America. In the end it is a matter of looking at thing objectively and realizing that change is needed. Unfortunately the only person running for the presidency isn't an ideal candidate but at least he is offering up alternatives.
[doublepost=1471880563][/doublepost]

Probably the only answer is to use something entirely different for secret communications that doesn't use the internet at all. I'm torn between the post office and pigeons.

Pigeons are good, just make sure they fly above shotgun range.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

I guess the NSA should stop using 12345 for systemwide passwords

I've got the same combination on my luggage.

(obligatory)

 

[kemal]

I guess the NSA should stop using 12345 for systemwide passwords

Ah Geez. I thought the NSA used 1234 as their super secret password. That's why we use 12345678.

 

[ISanych]

Since you so good with "facts", here is one for you. UK is still EU until it have officially completed the exit.
But anyway, if you did care to read my comment above, I never claimed UK is EU. I said Europe, which for the ones who are mature enough to know one or 2 things about the world, is a continent and UK just happen to be in that continent

Actually Europe is not a continent and UK is not in any continent .

P.S. After some research I see that different countries have different definitions of continents, and in UK Europe is considered a continent, but second half of my original statement still stand even in UK - it is not a part of continental Europe:

• The seven-continent model is usually taught in China, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, parts of Western Europe and most English-speaking countries, including Australia[24] and the UK.[25]
• The six-continent combined-Eurasia model is mostly used in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Japan.[citation needed]
• The six-continent combined-America model is used in France and its former colonies, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Romania,[citation needed] Latin America,[26] and Greece.[17]
• A five-continent model is obtained from the six-continent combined-America model by excluding Antarctica as uninhabited. This is used, for example, in the Olympic Charter.[27]

 

[NT1440]

One of the big problems is the public debt which is massive. It is something that must be addressed particularly considering how much of the debt China owes.

Why? You guys act as if China can suddenly call in their debt without sinking their own economy in the process, we're linked up in an economic MAD scheme with them.

Are you also citing the $8Trillion in debt that we owe ourselves as part of this sky is falling scenario?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

May as well praise the criminal who raped the rape victim and blame her for wearing a dress perceived as being "inviting" because the parallel is absolutely no different.

Sorry, I really don't get the disgusting rape reference.

 

[maxsix]

Hey, if you get rid of all the 90 year old Congress members who will be there to champion the horse and buggy?.

No worries, backed by corrupt establishment politicians Hillary will snuggle up to Tim while keeping her contingency of graybeards happy.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

No worries, backed by corrupt establishment politicians Hillary will snuggle up to Tim while keeping her contingency of graybeards happy.

I'd rather have a 'corrupt establishment politician' than a proven liar and puppet of fascist regimes across the world. I wouldn't be surprised that, besides Russia, and China, that North Korea has shoved cash into Trump's sweaty opened palm. Trump is a user. He got to where he thinks he is by using the hell out of people. Part of using people is lying about everything. How much he's worth. (About $23.98?) How much he's raised. (Varies wildly depending on who you hear) How many businesses he's run into the ground. (It's never ever his fault) How many GOP politicians are running the hell away from him and his massive diseased ego. (Lots!)

Plus, this is an Apple product site. Tim's Apple has donated to republicans as well. Just not the Trump Dumpster. There are some good republicans. Trump is neither.

 

[maxsix]

Plus, this is an Apple product site. Tim's Apple has donated to republicans as well. Just not the Trump Dumpster. There are some good republicans. Trump is neither.

Let's be clear... I did not bring up Trump.
Nor do I advocate for him.

You may not have noticed that Tim Cook is heavily invested in Hillary and her agenda. It's the fashionable thing to do in Silicon Valley, Tims playground.

 

[BvizioN]

Actually Europe is not a continent and UK is not in any continent

Com on man, really? For something so basic that every child on the world ( well, almost) learn since the age of 7?? On what planet do you live?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent

 

[VulchR]

What? In the UK where the government wants to force tech companies to decrypt protected devices? Oh yeah, we take security and privacy very seriously. Same thing with the France.

That law did not pass. What the government wants to do, and what Parliament will approve, are two different things. However, I acknowledge that Europeans spy just like the US. However, it is a matter of degree.
[doublepost=1471885980][/doublepost]

Wow! A whole university? You must know everything!

Our university is subject to the same laws as all of the other business and governmental organisations. We have to be trained in data security and privacy before we are allowed to handle data. This includes both UK and EU law (at least for now). Among other things, we have to be exquisitely careful about not letting personal information escape from the UK to the US, for the EU does not trust the US with personal data because the US does not have the same safeguards as the EU.

So... I don't know everything, but I never claimed to, and I do know something of both the UK and EU legislation.