In its recent attempt to wear strong encryption protection, according to what the UK government has secretly ordered Apple to build the rear door that would allow British security personnel to access the coded cloud storage data for Apple customers anywhere in the world.
The secret order-which was issued under the 2016 UK Investigative Power Law (known as the SNOOPERS Charter)-aims to undermine the OPT-in Apple feature that provides comprehensive encryption (E2Ee) for iCloud backup, called advanced data protection. The encrypted backup feature only allows Apple customers access to their iCloud devices – not even Apple can access.
While the UK government refused to comment on Techcrunch on the report, British officials have long argued that E2e made it difficult to collect digital evidence of criminal prosecutions and collect intelligence information for national security.
Apple’s encrypted backup feature, as soon as it is enabled, a loophole used by the law application to access cloud stored data. It was impossible to open this data on most modern iPhone devices that were enabled the device’s encryption.
Washington Post, which I mentioned the story for the first timeApple is likely to stop providing an iCloud encryption feature for UK users in response to the secret arrangement, rather than breaking the world level encryption.
Apple has previously warned that encrypted communication services, FaceTime and IMessage may be in danger in the United Kingdom, as it responds to plans to increase government surveillance powers.
Viggies all over the world
If Apple has stripped its UK customers from the advanced iCloud, the repercussions will not stop at the country’s borders.
Rebecca Vincent, who heads the Civil Liberties and Civil Liberties Group, warned that The UK government “Draconian” will not make citizens saferBut instead “corrosion of basic rights and civil freedoms of all population.”
Although he has not yet clarified how the UK’s matter works in practice – removing advanced data protection will not make cloud data for UK citizens only available for law enforcement – news has sparked fears that security for millions of Apple owners around the world can weaken .
Security and privacy advocates also say that the UK can put a dangerous global precedent stating that authoritarian regimes and electronic criminals will be excited to exploit them – that is, a truly developed for government use that will inevitably be exploited by infiltrators and other governments.
Thorin Klosowski, a private activist at the United States Electronic Foundation, warned in a blog publication that the UK’s demands It will have global repercussions That makes the secret matter a “emergency state for all of us”. James Baker said in the Open Rights Group Last week The plans are “frightening … and will make everyone less safe.”
A security lesson did not learn
The influence on the UK government’s matter can be on citizens all over the world has sparked criticism amid fears that it could put the United Kingdom at odds with some of its closest allies.
The news comes a few weeks after the American security authorities urged the American to use encrypted messaging applications to avoid intercepting their communications by hostilities. The consultant followed reports of a year -old hidden penetration campaign by Chinese government spies aimed at penetrating the critical American infrastructure, as well as phone and the Internet.
The Computer and Communications Industry Association, the American Technology Industry Group that represents the information and communications technology industries, He said the breaches The so -called “Typhoon” group of Chinese -backed infiltrators explains that “a comprehensive encryption may be the only protection between personal and commercial data sensitive to Americans and foreign opponents.”
CCIA said: “Decisions should be taken regarding the privacy and security of Americans in America, in an open and transparent manner, and not through secret orders from abroad that require keys under distances,” CCIA said.
Chris Muhr, President of the Software and Information Industry Association in the United States, as well He issued a similar warningHe described the UK command as “undesirable and dangerous.”
“In the aftermath of the salt hurricane, we need policies to make information safer (not less) safe,” Muhr said, referring to the group backed by China targeting phone companies. “We call on the Trump and the American Congress to take a strong position against this disturbing development.”
The Chinese breakthroughs that targeted the giants of the phone and the Internet – including AT & T and Verizon – are the latest example of the reason that the UK government’s rear demands on Apple are defective.
Salt Typhoon has carried out communications breach, which is said to be one of the biggest breakthroughs in modern history, by abusing the legally delegated rear door required by telecommunications companies to grant law enforcement and intelligence agencies to access their customer data based on demand.
“The lesson will be repeated until it is learned: there is no rear door only allows the good players and keeps the bad guys,” according to. To the Electronic Borders Corporation. “It is time for all of us to realize this, and take steps to ensure the true security and privacy for all of us.”