Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




CYBER WARS
Apple's new encryption to lock out government
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Sept 18, 2014


Apple is rolling out new privacy protections for iPhones and iPads, with a new system that makes it impossible for the company to unlock a device even with a warrant.

Apple's privacy terms updated late Wednesday indicate that under its new mobile operating system, iOS 8, the company will not have access to customer passwords.

"Your personal data such as photos, messages (including attachments), email, contacts, call history, iTunes content, notes, and reminders, is placed under the protection of your passcode," says the new policy on Apple's website.

"Unlike our competitors, Apple cannot bypass your passcode and therefore cannot access this data. So it's not technically feasible for us to respond to government warrants for the extraction of this data from devices in their possession running iOS 8."

The iOS 8 operating system is available on the iPhone 6, which goes on sale Friday, and can be installed on many existing iPhones and iPads.

The update comes in the wake of revelations of massive government surveillance programs that sweep up data from computers and other devices.

Leaked documents from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden have highlighted concerns about the role of major tech firms in these programs.

Apple's chief executive Tim Cook said the company is dedicated to protection of personal data.

"Our business model is very straightforward," he said in a message to Apple users.

"We sell great products. We don't build a profile based on your email content or web browsing habits to sell to advertisers. We don't 'monetize' the information you store on your iPhone or in iCloud. And we don't read your email or your messages to get information to market to you."

The move comes with Apple and other tech firms under scrutiny for how much information is handed over to law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

Apple said it does comply with legitimate court orders and other legal requests.

But Cook stated, "We have never worked with any government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of our products or services. We have also never allowed access to our servers. And we never will."

The privacy update comes following a leak of nude celebrity photos from their iCloud storage. Apple said its cloud servers were not breached, but that celebrities had their passwords stolen or fell victim to schemes to give up their passwords.

- 'Awesome for privacy' -

Privacy activists praised the effort and said it may encourage others to follow Apple's lead.

"This is very awesome for privacy," said Joseph Hall, chief technologist at the Washington-based Center for Democracy and Technology.

"This is an important assurance for people. It's not security just some of the time, it's security all of the time."

Hall added that the move is "good for the industry, because there is a real deficit of trust" after the incident affecting celebrity photos.

"I think with this, you will see other companies compete on privacy and security," Hall told AFP.

Hall said that on Google Android devices, the pattern-unlock code provides little security but that an optional personal code is encrypted and offers similar protection to that offered by Apple.

"But it's not the default for Android, and the default is important because most people don't change that," he said.

Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said it was "good news for Internet users and iPhone users that their screen lock cannot be compromised."

But Rotenberg said other privacy issues still need to be addressed, notably how Apple handles personal data for its HealthKit system for fitness monitoring.

"The issue is the flow of user data to the app developers," Rotenberg told AFP. "Apple has created a platform that can allow for the transfer of sensitive medical data."

Jeffrey Chester at the Center for Digital Democracy also expressed caution.

Chester said Apple "did the right thing" with its new encryption but that its partnerships with banks, retailers and others are cause for concern.

"These companies know that Apple will help them gather even more data from us, including our financial information and location," Chester said.

"Apple at the moment is serving as a data collection 'middleman,' as it builds a new business as a financial and health data supplier."

rl/nss

APPLE INC.

GOOGLE

.


Related Links
Cyberwar - Internet Security News - Systems and Policy Issues






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








CYBER WARS
China says US hacking charges 'fabricated out of thin air'
Beijing (AFP) Sept 18, 2014
Beijing on Thursday strongly denied a US congressional panel's claim that Chinese government-linked hackers had launched dozens of cyberattacks on American defence contractors, saying the charges were "fabricated out of thin air". The denial came a day after a Senate panel released a study finding that hackers had gained access to systems run by companies doing contract work for the US Trans ... read more


CYBER WARS
Year's final supermoon is a Harvest Moon

China Aims for the Moon, Plans to Bring Back Lunar Soil

Electric Sparks May Alter Evolution of Lunar Soil

China to test recoverable moon orbiter

CYBER WARS
NASA Mars Spacecraft Ready for Sept. 21 Orbit Insertion

India A New Contender in Asian Space Race or Technological Breakthrough

MAVEN on course for Mars Arrival Sept 21

NASA spacecraft to begin orbiting Mars within days

CYBER WARS
NASA Chooses American Companies to Transport US Astronauts to ISS

Space: China's final tourism frontier

NASA's Orion Spacecraft Nears Completion, Ready for Fueling

The long descent

CYBER WARS
Astronauts eye China's future space station

China eyes working with other nations as station plans develop

China completes construction of advanced space launch facility

China to launch second space lab in 2016: official

CYBER WARS
Boeing, SpaceX to send astronauts to space station

SpaceX To Deliver Science Experiments To ISS For Ames

CASIS Research Set for Launch Aboard SpaceX Mission to ISS

4th SpaceX Cargo Mission to ISS Dragon Scheduled for Sep 20

CYBER WARS
France raises heat on decision for next Ariane rocket

Elon Musk gets fresh challenge with space contract

Proton Launches May Compete on Price With US Falcons

NASA's Wind-Watching ISS-RapidScat Ready for Launch

CYBER WARS
Chandra Finds Planet That Makes Star Act Deceptively Old

Solar System Simulation Reveals Planetary Mystery

'Hot Jupiters' provoke their own host suns to wobble

First evidence for water ice clouds found outside solar system

CYBER WARS
Larry Ellison releases helm of mighty Oracle ship

Mussel-inspired MIT glue may have naval, medical applications

'Priceless' 600-tonne jade deposit found in China

NASA Awards Cross-track Infrared Sounder For JPS System-2 Bird




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.