Apple on Wednesday introduced Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, which uses end-to-end encryption to provide Apple’s highest level of cloud data security, users have the choice to further protect important iCloud data, including iCloud Backup, Photos, Notes, and more. The FBI says it’s “deeply concerned.”
Joseph Menn for The Wall Street Journal:
After years of delay under government pressure, Apple said Wednesday that it will offer fully encrypted backups of photos, chat histories and most other sensitive user data in its cloud storage system worldwide, putting them out of reach of most hackers, spies and law enforcement.
The step is likely to draw protests from multiple governments, some of which could take legislative or court action or deny Apple access to their markets. Top law enforcement officials in the United States, Britain and other democracies have railed against strong encryption, and some have passed laws they could use to try to force companies to cooperate against their customers.
Late Wednesday, the FBI said it was “deeply concerned with the threat end-to-end and user-only-access encryption pose.”
The encryption option will be available for public software testers immediately, for all U.S. customers by year’s end, and for other countries starting next year, Apple said. It added that it might not reach every country by the end of 2023.
MacDailyNews Take: You know, because the FBI has proven itself to be so uncorrupted, nonpartisan, and because all of its FISA and other “requests” are driven by motives that are as pure as the driven snow*.
Make end-to-end iCloud encryption active by default, Apple.
*in Chernobyl.
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I think the fight for privacy in the digital age is one of the better things Apple has championed. Yes, it doesn’t harm their business model at all, but the ease at which personal photos and documents can be seemingly hacked is unnerving.
While I get that the FBI and Homeland Security would very much like to prevent another 9/11, and for all we know they have, I still want them to have to secure a very stringent and narrow digital warrant to do so.
In the meantime, I’d feel much happier knowing that hackers, ransomware creeps, spies, stalker slime and whatnot would have to work a lot harder to see our texts, emails, and digitally stored data.
Welcome to MacDaily News: Right-wing slanted viewpoints with an occasional Apple/Mac connection.
Right-wing slanted viewpoints? So, you think that the FBI’s FISA and other “requests” are as pure as the driven snow?
I heard having an FBI agent on staff can help with such things…and likely others having to do with privacy, security and oh boy…freedom of speech (says the right-wing slanted writer).
Welcome to MacDaily News comments: A left-wing loony bin of Biden fellated viewpoints with an occasional Apple/Mac connection.
You leftist fscks are a poisonous cancer on this world.
Welcome to the wacked out poster that comes to MDN. EE2E? Privacy from government? Pffft, that’s not important, what is important is this is a right! wing! slanted! site. Notice that is what is important to this, ahem, person?
Hans Brinker:
There is a reason that Republicans are called “The RIGHT”
and Dumocrats are called Libturds
I am constantly surprised how media bias and especially the weaponization of government law enforcement agencies to be used for political purposes only seems to bother people on the right. All of this evil is fine, as long as it only targets the right.
Once upon a time the FBI were heroes. Best of the best in law enforcement. Now they’re more like J. Ega’rs Gestapo than ever before.
Hans, it’s unclear to me if your solo sentence was aimed at me, but I don’t see this as a partisan issue at all and I’m definitely not Right-wing.
Cue the ‘think of the children’ bullshit trope in 5 4 3 2……
Funny that. They don’t have a problem with killing, injuring or sterilizing them with the jab.
None of which happened beyond isolated cases, just like any medication.
If countries tried to block Apple products in their countries, over end to end privacy, the uproar from the citizens will be very loud indeed.
FBI’s upset….quick, somebody call the WHAAmbulance!!
The FBI has shown they are not to be trusted. It’s what you get when you bring your partisan political views to your job, instead of doing your job.
I used to have to occasionally deal with “that other agency,” aka the Flying Saucer Squad. They want the easy button on everything. They seem to be the primary 3-letter agency attempting to ban “private, unmonitored “ encryption. IOW, all transmissions backdoored. What could go wrong? This is not left or right, it is unconstitutional overreach. Not good.
Jason, I agree it’s not Left or Right wing anything. It’s all about the right to privacy and spilling coffee while reaching over the Constitution.
I’m so surprised (well, maybe “surprise fatigued” is the better term) when people want to turn this into some partisan debate. These are not partisan issues.
Sort of like when aliens finally invade from another galaxy?
I really think we’re all on the same side on this issue.
Exactly. Seems the FBI did more to influence American elections than Russia or China. That should bother you no matter what your politics.
Puh-leeeze….
If the FBI was worried about “the kids” then Epstein would still be alive and politicians (both parties…but mainly Dems) would be in jail.
They are only interested in iNfo they can use to squeeze people.
Screw’em…..(yeah I said it!!)
Who dare you FBi fishy bullshit idiot look at fbi collude with Democratic Party censor hunter Biden and bullshit on Russian disinformation.. I would say this is conspiracy and everyone involved in this should be get sentenced to death. Kanina stand up and fight against corrupted fbi
Lol. They can just ask the NSA or China for the backdoor. Anyone really believe there’s no way? This is all kabuki theater
MacDailyNews Take: “Make end-to-end iCloud encryption active by default, Apple.”
In a video interview recently SVP Craig Federighi explained that this kind of end-to-end encryption requires active decision-making on the part of a user to enable it without inadvertently rendering their data PERMANENTLY unobtainable; a definite risk. SO IT HAS TO BE ‘OFF’ BY DEFAULT. This is because the encryption/decryption keys reside exclusively on users’ devices; not on Apple’s servers. Specific key safeguards must be set up and in place BEFORE utilizing this kind of encrypted cloud storage. Otherwise, all may become inaccessible resulting in eternal zombie data zones [EZDZs] on Apple’s servers.
“The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.”
~ George Orwell #truth #politics
Why can’t Apple incorporate a function into their cell phones (and iCloud services) that produces a download of the cell phone’s contents (or the service’s stored information)?
This function could be password protected. The password would have to be special in that it would need to be non-reproducable; unbreakable.
The system should be designed so that Apple could also update the password. This could result in a situation in which Apple could have more than one download function password on cell phones in service. Older cell phones would have the older password, and newer cell phones would have an updated password. With this password the contents of the cell phone could be downloaded.
Without the password no one else would be able to gain access to the data–the way the cell phones work now.
Apple could supply Government with the passwords created; Government would then not need to contact Apple to investigate one of these cell phones. As we are discussing Government, it should be noted that the public would have to accept this; a degree of trust is necessary for this system to work. But it would allow Apple to continue its fine work on cell phone encryption. It would also create a way for this to work that would not thwart legitimate efforts to stop crime. But if we really do not trust Government to the point where this idea is unacceptable, I believe that may indicate a different issue…
That password, though. It would really need to be special.