Tim Cook Speaks on Privacy in New Interview: 'We Try Not to Collect Data'

[petsounds]

Why? Apple is part of the NSA PRISM program:

While I do think some companies are actively working with the NSA and supplying information to them (looking at you, Microsoft), other companies are "part of the program" only in that the NSA is: 1) storing and siloing communications and records of different companies via their trunk-level data taps, 2) developed a tool to search on this data. It's also possible that covert agents inside companies are providing backdoors, but this would be higher-risk for the NSA if they were directly accessing company servers.

So when a company is added to that list, I believe it's not necessarily that this company is working with the NSA, but that the NSA has developed another "plug-in" for their tool which supports X company's data formats and encryption schemes. As the slide states, the data "varies by provider". This is probably because some companies are lax or bad at security, and some are good. I imagine that though the NSA could theoretically crack individual iMessages, even they do not have the processing power to do so in aggregate.

I think this is the case with Apple, because to work with the NSA would be counter to how they generally deal with customer information. If they were working with the NSA, Touch ID keys would be stored in the cloud. Apple would also have the encryption keys for each iMessage account so that they could hand over to the NSA for easy decrypting. And I just believe, as a culture, that Apple would not play ball with a three-letter agency asking for all their data.

 

[bbeagle]

Uhh, don't think Apple doesn't sell your personal data to companies. Because they have in the past. Don't think they won't again if the opportunity arises.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=apple sells user data

Putting blind faith into a multibillion dollar company is a fool's errand. Don't be a fool.

I'm not putting 'blind faith' into Apple. It's an informed decision. I've looked at the history of Apple vs. other companies, and what Apple says about security and privacy has rung true for decades. Sure, there have been a few mis-steps, but FAR less than other tech companies, and nothing from my point-of-view intentional, like other companies.

And to compete with Google, it's in Apple's best interests to keep your data secure, and not share it.

 

[bearcatrp]

There isn't a big enough pair of hip boots to waid through this load of horse$%&*. You would think his nose would grow while talking this BS!

 

[Moto G]

I trust Tim Cook and I trust Apple. I don't care who thinks what... I trust them, because it's my choice to do so. Cynics are everywhere, and if you took apart and analysed EVERYTHING each one of them said, you'd never leave your house.

Don't like Tim/Apple? Deal with it your own way.

 

[Daws001]

I hope for the day when Tim Cook stops using the word "Incredddible…"

Well, to be fair it was a really good movie.

 

[tech4all]

precisely why I will never buy a google/android device.

It's adorable you believe that.

Uhh, don't think Apple doesn't sell your personal data to companies. Because they have in the past. Don't think they won't again if the opportunity arises.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=apple sells user data

Putting blind faith into a multibillion dollar company is a fool's errand. Don't be a fool.

Wise words.

I trust Tim Cook and I trust Apple. I don't care who thinks what... I trust them, because it's my choice to do so. Cynics are everywhere, and if you took apart and analysed EVERYTHING each one of them said, you'd never leave your house.

Don't like Tim/Apple? Deal with it your own way.

Ok then I trust Google and Eric Schmidt.

 

[bbeagle]

Ok then I trust Google and Eric Schmidt.

It's adorable that you believe that.

 

[Moto G]

Full interview here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yISM7eaxwtk

 

[rdlink]

Apple has been caught selling user data too.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=apple sells user data

Wow, you did a Google search and posted the results. The only one of the results I saw that referenced Apple selling customer data referred to a class action lawsuit (flashing red lights!!) filed by some people in Mass who claimed Apple requires people to provide zip codes for in store purchases. First of all, I have bought a lot of things from the Apple store. A lot. A LOT!!! Never once have I been asked to provide a zip code. Second, the suit was dismissed in June...

 

[thekeyring]

We don't read your iMessage... But they will be analysing it in the watch... They showed that.

Yes but with software, not by reading it.

 

[bbeagle]

There isn't a big enough pair of hip boots to waid through this load of horse$%&*. You would think his nose would grow while talking this BS!

Tim Cook has great passion for what he does. If you can't see this, and you choose to be a cynic and hater, I really feel bad for you. Do you have passion for anyone or anything? Does anything make you happy?

 

[spectrumfox]

I'm not putting 'blind faith' into Apple. It's an informed decision. I've looked at the history of Apple vs. other companies, and what Apple says about security and privacy has rung true for decades. Sure, there have been a few mis-steps, but FAR less than other tech companies, and nothing from my point-of-view intentional, like other companies.

And to compete with Google, it's in Apple's best interests to keep your data secure, and not share it.

So is that why iCloud is one of the easiest services to hack? Because Apple keeps your data secure and doesn't share it?

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=icloud hacked

http://www.neowin.net/news/apples-i...e-in-osx-is-bypassed-in-just-70-lines-of-code

http://arstechnica.com/features/201...cloud-for-personal-data-is-terrifying-simple/

http://mashable.com/2014/09/04/i-hacked-my-own-icloud-account/

They may as well share it openly with how little security is actually protecting your iCloud data.

Hackers have been breaking into iCloud accounts and stealing data for years, it's just only come to light now that a bunch of celebrities had their stolen nudes spread around. And most of them were taken a long time ago.

Was that part of your informed decision too? Or do you consider that a mis-step?

 

[Parasprite]

Earth is capitalized.

Both are correct.

earth (noun)
1. (also Earth) the planet on which we live; the world: the diversity of life on earth.

 

[bearcatrp]

Tim Cook has great passion for what he does. If you can't see this, and you choose to be a cynic and hater, I really feel bad for you. Do you have passion for anyone or anything? Does anything make you happy?

Tim's passion goes to the share holders. Period. Take the blinders off dude.

 

[iCore24]

Heres Part 1 of the interview.

http://9to5mac.com/2014/09/13/part-...interview-with-tim-cook-now-available-online/

 

[bbeagle]

So is that why iCloud is one of the easiest services to hack? Because Apple keeps your data secure and doesn't share it?
...

Hackers have been breaking into iCloud accounts and stealing data for years, it's just only come to light now that a bunch of celebrities had their stolen nudes spread around. And most of them were taken a long time ago.

Was that part of your informed decision too? Or do you consider that a mis-step?

iCloud is DEFINITELY part of my decision.

iCloud was not hacked. User's passwords were hacked, not the service itself. The service itself is secure.

If you choose to falsely believe something incorrect, it's your loss. I choose to use facts, not hater opinion in my decisions.

 

[rdlink]

So is that why iCloud is one of the easiest services to hack? Because Apple keeps your data secure and doesn't share it?

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=icloud hacked

http://arstechnica.com/features/201...cloud-for-personal-data-is-terrifying-simple/

http://mashable.com/2014/09/04/i-hacked-my-own-icloud-account/

They may as well share it openly with how little security is actually protecting your iCloud data.

Hackers have been breaking into iCloud accounts and stealing data for years, it's just only come to light now that a bunch of celebrities had their stolen nudes spread around. And most of them were taken a long time ago.

Was that part of your informed decision too? Or do you consider that a mis-step?

It's part of mine. I use two factor authentication whenever it's available. And it's available on iCloud.

Wanna know when I started using two-factor authentication? When I discovered my gmail account was being logged into in eastern Europe with regularity.

 

[bbeagle]

Tim's passion goes to the share holders. Period. Take the blinders off dude.

Very cynical attitude. Apple is one of the few companies that does NOT do things for shareholders. All companies are not the same, pull your blinders off.

 

[spectrumfox]

iCloud is DEFINITELY part of my decision.

iCloud was not hacked. User's passwords were hacked, not the service itself. The service itself is secure.

If you choose to falsely believe something incorrect, it's your loss. I choose to use facts, not hater opinion in my decisions.

If the user authentication system is easily hackable, which it is, then the service itself is not secure. That's a fact of any security system, it's not an opinion. A security system is only as strong as it's weakest element. In this case, it's their authentication system.

The fact is someone can break into your iCloud account right now with very little effort. The articles I posted explain how it's done. It's an epidemic.

 

[mcdspncr]

Who am I going to believe? Someone who put Apple's name on a very amateur-looking Power Point slide, or someone commenting on MacRumors?

I'm thinking... I'm thinking...

The slide does say "Top Secret", so it must be real, right? I mean, Right?

I'll decide after I open the mail. One envelope says I may already be a winner.

I know those slides look very cheesy, but those are the originals from the Snowden leaks. Most of the NSA stuff looks very amateur despite how sophisticated the organization is. Those same slides were published by major news organizations like the New York Times and the guardian as well. And yes, it literally says top secret LOL

That being said, that is no indication that Apple is responsible or cooperating. From what has been published, the PRISM program siphons off data prior to reaching company servers. That is probably why Tim focused a lot on iMessage security. Because it's Apple to Apple it has full into and encryption so it can't be siphoned off easily. Email on the other hand is likely less secure.

 

[spectrumfox]

It's part of mine. I use two factor authentication whenever it's available. And it's available on iCloud.

Wanna know when I started using two-factor authentication? When I discovered my gmail account was being logged into in eastern Europe with regularity.

Two-factor auth is a good start. Apple needs to make this mandatory on ALL iCloud accounts. Right now, it's only opt-in and that's a problem.

 

[bbeagle]

If the user authentication system is easily hackable, which it is, then the service itself is not secure

If someone can guess your username/password, I don't fault the system. It's how 99% of the systems in use today work.

Facebook, Google Mail, Target, Home Depot, much worse hacks recently, that compromise the system WITHOUT just a username/password guess. Tell me how much worse those are, then I'll trust your opinion.

 

[spectrumfox]

If someone can guess your username/password, I don't fault the system. It's how 99% of the systems in use today work.

Facebook, Google Mail, Target, Home Depot, much worse hacks recently.

You didn't even read the articles... People don't break into your iCloud account by guessing your username and password.

They break in using your security questions and other loopholes. If someone knows your real name, they can find just about any answer you have provided to the security questions that Apple asks.

Once they're in, they can re-direct your iCloud account, change the password themselves, and now you're locked out. It can be accomplished within hours. And, with access to your iCloud account, they can use Find my iPhone and Find my Mac to wipe your devices remotely without your consent, and then hold your backups for ransom.

It's also easy to brute force. As one of the websites states, for $200 I could buy an app that will brute force your account since Apple doesn't institute an account lockout when bad passwords are entered.

You should really do yourself a favor and read through the articles I posted. It's an eye-opener how insecure iCloud truly is.

 

[rdlink]

Two-factor auth is a good start. Apple needs to make this mandatory on ALL iCloud accounts. Right now, it's only opt-in and that's a problem.

Frankly, what I wish they would do is provide a one-time authorization token type two-factor authentication. Something that requires me to enter a code generated by one of my iDevices every time I log into iCloud.

 

[fredcintra]

If the user authentication system is easily hackable, which it is, then the service itself is not secure. That's a fact of any security system, it's not an opinion. A security system is only as strong as it's weakest element. In this case, it's their authentication system.

The fact is someone can break into your iCloud account right now with very little effort. The articles I posted explain how it's done. It's an epidemic.

Spectrumfox, which service do you trust you personal data, your e-mails, files, etc? Google? Microsoft? Yahoo? In your line of thought, you should live in a cave because everyone is selling your data!