Apple’s ‘dangerous’ iPhone update is much worse than you think

Let’s keep this short and sweet – or rather bitter. The widely reported mandate on Apple to step up its encryption at the request of the British government is also a disaster for iPhone users and everyone else. It is the most serious setback for personal cyber security we have seen for years. If this goes on as reported, there will be no return.

In a script that appears to have come out of Monty Python Writers’ Room, Washington Post Sent the news that the UK government had issued a secret, so -called “technical capacity message” on Apple, demanding that it provide a back door for intelligence and law enforcement to fully encrypted cloud storage accounts.

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Here is the satirical part – Apple cannot admit that it has been proclaimed a message or even recognizing discussions; It cannot update users about what has happened, or even tell them that the security of their accounts has been weakened; It can appeal, but can’t even wait for the appeal to be heard before making changes.

Signals Meredith Whittaker summarized it perfectly: “Using technical capacity messages to weaken encryption across the globe is a shocking feature that will place Britain as a technical pariah, rather than a technical leader. If implemented, the directive will create a dangerous cybersecurity – Vulnerability in the nervous system in our global economy.

After years of back and forth between security agencies, supervisory authorities, legislators and Big Tech, where encryption is defended to Hilt, this kills it dead in a moment. Make no mistake, there is no such thing as a safe back door. If you weaken the encrypted enclave, you can assume that it will be exploited by good actors as well as bad. And if the United Kingdom had to do this, what will stop China or Russia that does the same.

The most ridiculous part of this story is that the British mandate allegedly applies to all iCloud data, regardless of jurisdiction. It would cover both the United States and the UK. It has caused the most constitution here – but this should not apply anywhere.

Seam Eff Warnings, “Any ‘Backdoor’ built for the government puts everyone at greater risk of hacking, identity theft and fraud. There is no world where these back doors once built would be used only by open and democratic governments .

So why is this worse than you think. In my opinion – and no one can officially comment on, so “views” will be all we can share – any such government’s action would not stop with Apple. Not to simplify cases but a bad actor would simply run Google’s helpful Switch to Android Software. If the United Kingdom goes after Apple, it also goes after Google and Meta and others. Why wouldn’t they? But Soviet style, none of these other parties can comment or answer questions or confirm or deny.

And then this becomes a weakening of the critical dam that keeps us all safe against spyware, hackers and data violations. It starts one place, but it goes everywhere. Apple has the most to lose – it changes the basic iPhone proposal. And then it’s a little surprise that this story is concentrating on Apple. But a tripod must be taken now.

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I agree with EFF: “Encryption is one of the best ways we need to regain our privacy and security in a digital world full of cyberattacks and security breaches and there is no way to weaken it to give access only to the ‘good guys’. “

The irony of this timing is the US government that changes its attitude towards encryption. In the wake of China’s salt typhoon who hacked America’s network, citizens were encouraged to turn to encryption whenever possible. If this furor taught us something, it is that the back doors will be exploited. Put them in for the right reason and they will be used for the wrong reason. Make no mistake – If Apple does not successfully prevent this update, it will just be the beginning of a very dangerous path.