Featured Apple / FBI Legal Battle

If they get in the habit of doing this what reason will they be asked to do it again later? Their concern is first precedence and then having an existing code that can be used by hackers. It is kind of like if you do not want a secret to get out the best way to ensure that is to not tell anyone.

In Apple's case the best security is for the code not to exist anywhere. The government got in a hurry, did not check with apple before trying to reset the password to the cloud and then moves to force Apple to change its policy. This whole mess could have been avoided by the government with some patience and wisdom. Now they are playing on the tragedy, because of their mistake, and placing blame on Apple.

The government has a compelling reason to see that info, Apple has a compelling reason to keep its security as it is. When those two conflict then who's position should come out ahead? Since I do not trust government, I will side with private business.

 

They have cooperated in these sorts of issues in the past. They even helped on this case, for a while...

I don't understand why you think there is something wrong with a private company cooperating with law enforcement to prevent potential terrorist attacks? What's the problem?

They wouldn't be telling anyone. The FBI is essentially asking Apple to load an OS onto a phone and digitally sign it. This happens every single day in the real world. If any hacker were to get a hold of the code for Apple's OS they could easily change the 10 attempt limit at the pass code to unlimited. I bet you or I could do it. The trick is getting that altered OS to be validated by Apple. This is the process that Apple must keep secret. They are currently keeping that process a secret. They would need to keep it secret after dealing with the FBI. There's no difference--Apple must maintain their own security over their own products.

Again, the code is worthless without the ability to activate it.

 

I am sorry for your confusion but I have not indicated any such position. In fact this twisting of my position is very crabbyesque. Kind of disappointed in you.

It matters not. The fact that it does not currently exist raises the level of security higher. Creating it lowers their security.

 

You've just written many, many posts arguing that Apple should not cooperate with the FBI to gain access to a terrorist's phone. I can see no other way to interpret your actions except to conclude you don't want Apple to cooperate with the FBI.

 

Ok, in this particular case, under these particular circumstances. I did not say all private companies all the time.

Your conclusion lacks appropriate specificity.

 

The FBI has a search warrant to search the phone. The only way to search the phone is to get the phone manufacturer's cooperation. I guess we'll have to see how it all shakes out.

OK, so what? If Apple gets to keep their technology secret from the FBI, what's the harm?

The precedent was set 200 years ago when the fourth amendment to the Constitution was adopted to require search warrants. If a device is used in the commission of a crime and a court orders a search warrant for that device, yes, I expect a computing device will be examined.

That's the boogieman that is being trotted out here. The Bill of Rights enumerates our rights to privacy. I expect that my computer is safe from unwarranted searches even if the FBI gets to crack this one phone.

 

This is one of the only things I can think of that we don't agree on, technological or otherwise. I just don't see people's privacy rights crumbling if the FBI gets into this one phone. Mind you, only under the conditions outlined--Apple does all the work, keeps all the code, doesn't give the FBI anything except the data on the phone. I would never advocate that the FBI acquire the ability to break a phone's encryption on their own.

 

The problem is the nature of government. It is not now nor will it ever be just about this one phone. It may be the guise right now but government always intrudes farther than folks intend for it to go when we let it.

 

Honestly, in a battle over information I'd trust the people of Apple over the FBI.

Apple knows that if they create backdoor(s) and open their products to hackers like the FBI is requesting, they will lose massive marketshare as well as violate their corporate ethics.

The FBI won't lose anything, they'll only gain things expressly prohibited by the Constitution.

 

So now I heard on the radio today the FBI is now saying "oh by the way we have 12 other phones we want you to help us get into.

 

I white'd out the naughty word for y'all.

 

Of course they are

 

They can merge these if the powers that be like. One is just as good as the other.