What's the thoughts on the Apple vs Government phone battle?

[sqlbullet]

Apple doesn't have what is in the phone.  They would have to create a version of IOS that circumvents security to get it.  And once created, it will get leaked.

Further, they have committed to their customer base that such a version does not and will not exist.  They have sold phones on the basis that what the government is trying to force them to do, they won't do.

[Bruno747]

Best analogy I've heard for this thus far below.

You own 100 condos that you rent out. A murder is committed by a tenant. The FBI comes with a warrant to search the house the tenant rented. But rather than simply ask for you to open the one condo, they demand that you rekey all 100 condos and provide them a master key so that they may enter and exit any condo at any time as they please.

Now were this 20 years ago I would be fine with Apple providing a back door. Back then use of tools like that were actually controlled and government users had to go through every legal roadblock to use them. In a cybersecurity conference I was at last year the speaker was "genuinely annoyed" at the state of some of the tools he wrote for dod years ago. Years ago a tool took multiple signature to use. When he did his last consultation work for them the updated versions of those tools have an integrated reason code use menu. Guess what one of the options was...OTHER...freaking other. A tool that used to require a warrant and multiple signatures now simply requires someone to give a bs reason to infringe your rights without due process or reasonable cause. No way Apple should give them a backdoor now. If they can do it and keep it secure they should require the Justice Dept to pay for each phone unlocked and have all warrants in hand before so much as looking apples direction.

But is suppose if they can force us to buy third party private healthcare then they could force us to purchase third party encryption that "only the govt has access to."

[10-4]

The goal is not to get into "that phone" but to get the public talking and fighting about Privacy.  The government knows exactly what's on that phone - but the government wants to use this crisis to their advantage.  "You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before." Rahm Emanuel

If the public demands Apple "open up that phone" then the government will use that public sentiment to further chip away at our dwindling rights.

[redbaron007]

My thoughts are the alphabet agency believed that Apple wouldn't fight, especially since they are more of a left leaning institution. Now a line has been drawn in the sand; the alphabet agency has only one option, press it through the courts in hope of a favorable outcome.

My prediction, this will get dropped and the alphabet agency will work with Apple to come up with a mutual agreeable resolution. My gut says the Gubbermit alphabet agencies don't want this precedent out there because of future ramifications.

I support Apple's stance.

[10-4]

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/09/edward-snowden-fbi-san-bernardino-iphone-bullshit-nsa-apple

[10-4]

Big surprise huh?  Didn't see this coming...  https://ca.news.yahoo.com/senators-close-finishing-encryption-penalties-legislation-sources-212238633--finance.html

[sqlbullet]

This is ultimately a first amendment challenge.  Code is a kind of speech, and has been protected as such in the past.

Apple if being forced to testify, after a sense, by producing language that may incriminate certain parties.

They should refuse on fifth amendment grounds.  The government could use the technology outside the scope of this case to incriminate Apple or it's conspirators in the future.  So, grant full immunity to Apple and it's customers, just like you would get any other time you were compelled to testify against your interest.

[10-4]

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/10/apple-fbi-could-force-us-to-turn-on-iphone-cameras-microphones

[gandog56]

I thought the NSA could unlock ANYTHING!

[10-4]

They can and they did.  This was all about using a "crisis" for advantage, in this case in an attempt to get the public aligned with "less privacy = more security".  It failed.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/03/28/apple-justice-department-farook/82354040/

[tommac919]

all a moot point now since the DOJ got into the phone via other means ( sounds like hired hackers ) and dropped the lawsuit

[Rojo27]

all a moot point now since the DOJ got into the phone via other means ( sounds like hired hackers ) and dropped the lawsuit

Agreed

Not too sure this is a great outcome for Apple either...  Now that their unbreakable encryption and or security has been broken by a 3rd party; the rabbit is out of the hat and knowledge to exploit the hack will get out.     

[Wolfie]

Well thats that and Apple cannot make the claim it cannot be hacked.

[tommac919]

Herad today it was the encryption that cracked, not the phone... sw patch time.

but,no worry as an Iphone 7 has already been leaked.

[sqlbullet]

In the age old battle between bullet and armor, armor alway looses eventually.  This applies to encryption as well.  Sooner or later there is a computer fast enough to brute force it.