The U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) uses a program “called Go Mobile meant to provide numerous communications, training, and collaboration applications to mobile soldiers,” Jon Oltsik reports for Network World. “Mobile device security is a critical requirement for this program so Go Mobile includes user authentication, secure data storage and transfer, secure device management, etc.”
“Initially Go Mobile was build [sic] for Blackberry devices but DISA is now adding support for Apple iPhones and Google Android phones because of high demand from users,” Oltsik reports. “Unfortunately, adding iPhone and Android support is more difficult than DISA anticipated. Why? Because both Apple and Google refuse to give DISA access to their security APIs so DISA had to do a series of workarounds to meet its security requirements. For example, DISA had to add an external Bluetooth device to provide secure personal networking capabilities because Apple wouldn’t provide API access to its iPhone security stack.”
Oltsik opines, “Hold the phone here! Apple and Google aren’t willing to provide additional technical support to the United States Department of Defense? Nope. One person I spoke with from DOD said that Apple flat out refused to play ball, telling DOD to ‘talk to our integrators and carriers.’ …The fact that DOD is going the extra mile and developing workarounds demonstrates that it is willing to do the right thing for American troops in spite of this lack of industry cooperation. It seems to me that Apple and Google are making self-centered bad decisions here that won’t play well with the American public. Clearly, Apple and Google should re-think these myopic and selfish policies. Providing API access to DOD is the patriotic and morale [sic] thing to do, especially since DOD is opening the door to lots of sales opportunities for both companies.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Jon, if you haven’t noticed, the U.S. government leaks like a sieve. Tool on over to WikiLeaks for proof. Apple is protecting the security of iOS; giving the U.S. government access is akin to publishing it on the Web for all to see. Providing API access to the U.S. DOD would be the foolish and irresponsible thing to do.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “dslarsen” for the heads up.]
“DISA had to add an external Bluetooth device to provide secure personal networking capabilities…”
Huh?!?!
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Grammar police:
“the patriotic and morale thing to do”
huh?
Also, how does Apple or Google know if the US gov’t wont use said APIs and tools to spy on foreign countries or even US citizens for that matter.
I like how he tries to guilt trip them into it being the moral and right thing to do. I love my country and thank god for the troops but this all sounds like a lame way to try and take what you want from a company who is too smart to compromise their security for something that would be “nice” to have.
@Brandon
You can BET they would spy on everything and everyone, given the chance. They are already aren’t they?
With as much as the government is making its way into all parts of our lives I have to agree with this move by Apple (and google). The next stepin this game by DOD would be to use it for- ehem- national security and tracking security threats.
No thanks.
So the military couldn’t hack their way into the device and get what they wanted? Puh-leaze! Oh, and even without the grammatical mistakes, this article seems to have been written by someone in the 8th grade.
DOD doing the right thing for the troops ? How about bringing them home ?
Gaagle and the NSA are already spying on us all. Count on it.
Agree. When the DOD learns to stop giving stupid fsck rapist Australians our secrets , then let’s talk. In the mean time, execute that weasel snitch rapist by hanging – live in RV.
Here’s the real story: DoD requires users to use a Common Access Card (CAC) for client authentication (secure websites, email, etc.). To accomplish that, you need a device that can read your CAC and integrate its security certificates into the client device (laptop, iPhone, etc.). This capability is not resident on the iOS, though it is on Mac OS. So, in order to make your iOS device capable of accessing DoD secure servers, you need to either implant your own custom security API resident on iOS (a no-no for iOS app developers) or produce an external device that is capable of providing the certificates directly from the CAC to the server. The Army has decided to do the latter with a Bluetooth device.
Nothing like 2 typos in 3 paragraphs to undermine your point.
I’m in the military and quite happy Apple told the DOD to figure it out on their own. Besides the fact the DoD “leaks like a sieve…”
Apple is sticking to principles -based decisions. It’s the only way to go.
It’s important to serve our country and support our troops. However, I get the feeling that the military-industrial complex wants to keep us constantly in fear, just like North Korea does to it’s people. It’s all about power, and corruption. So there’s a limit to what you should do. Apple’s doing the right thing. And Captain America would agree: http://captain-america.us/articles/civil-war.htm
It’s important to serve our country and support our troops. However, I get the feeling that the military-industrial complex wants to keep us constantly in fear, just like North Korea does to it’s people. It’s all about power, and corruption. So there’s a limit to what you should do. Apple’s doing the right thing. And Captain America would agree: http://captain-america.us/articles/civil-war.htm
It’s important to serve our country and support our troops. However, I get the feeling that the military-industrial complex wants to keep us constantly in fear, just like North Korea does to it’s people. It’s all about power, and corruption. So there’s a limit to what you should do. Apple’s doing the right thing. And Captain America would agree: http://captain-america.us/articles/civil-war.htm
Octal,
Thank you for the bit of knowledge and clarification.
“to provide numerous communications, training, and collaboration applications to mobile soldiers,”
To provide to mobile soldiers it says. But then it says users???
“because of high demand from users,”
High demand??
They are soldiers, and I know there are many. Are they to choose what military [mobile] tools to use for the battle field!?
I’m not underestimating or unnapreciating soldiers, they do a very very honorable job. I’m just wondering… Is that not supposed to be figured out at an upper level?
@ X
You want to hang him in an RV??
That is some of the dumbest shit I have ever heard of!!
What do you suggest? …. a motorhome or a towable?
Ceiling heights in either are not very tall.
Hope this guy is short so there will be room to drop!
@Hope and Change,
Darn right! The military-media-industrial complex has been stoking our fears since at least 11 Sept. 2001. They want to keep us full of fear so that we’ll put up with porno scanners, warrantless wiretapping, etc. Let’s stand up and say “NO” to their tactics.
@OhMan! Are you suggesting guys far removed in the rear are more in touch with frontline conditions than troops in the shite? You have to listen to people doing the real work.
@OhMan! Are you suggesting guys far removed in the rear are more in touch with frontline conditions than troops in the shite? You have to listen to people doing the real work.
@OhMan! Are you suggesting guys far removed in the rear are more in touch with frontline conditions than troops in the shite? You have to listen to people doing the real work.
DISA could have asked to develop what ever they need at Apple’s location under Apple’s supervision. If Apple had access to the top IT at DISA, it could lead to the fall of Microsoft and the rise of Apple at the DOD!
Apple could hire a few of the DISA best and open doors the Al Gore can’t seem to open. (Why is Al Gore on the Apple board?)
@ OhMan!
The decisions are made at higher levels but the troops can and do request equipment. They are also the field testers and make recommendations as to what they need and what works. A good leadership listens to the troops.