Posted on 02/25/2016 8:10:06 AM PST by Kaslin
I'm shocked that so many Americans are ignorantly willing to empower this federal government to create a master key to our smartphones. The majority of Americans in a Pew Research poll said they agree with the government that Apple should unlock the iPhone of the San Bernardino terrorist-shooter (Syed Rizwan Farook).
My theory on this is that most people have no idea what the actual question is or what is involved in unlocking this phone. The Pew question is "Should Apple unlock the terrorist's iPhone?" Here's what the question should be: "Do you think Apple should be forced to create a software patch for the iPhone ios (that does not presently exist) in order to assist the government into hacking the terrorist-shooter's iPhone?" I suspect the answer to that question would be an overwhelming "no."
This is not as simple as 'unlocking' an iPhone. Apple created the encryption process specifically so user-data could not be accessed once the phone was locked - not even by Apple. Once your four-digit code is entered into the iPhone 5 or greater, the stored private data is encrypted by a random algorithm. While Apple created the algorithm, they did not create software (a master key) to decrypt the data. It's a brilliant security feature and since no decryption exists, it makes your phone-data as safe as possible.
Therefore, what the government is asking Apple to do is create a software patch (that doesn't exist) to unlock the iPhone without triggering it's 'erase all data" anti-hacking (theft) features. This is new software and anyone who states otherwise, is lying or misinformed. This is unprecedented via court-order. Further, it is a display of just how ignorant (perhaps arrogant) our country has become.
Apple does not possess Farook's data such as a phone company would possess his calling and text records. The data is on a device that Apple sold. This would be akin to asking Samsung to create a software program to tell the government what television programs you've been watching. In that scenario, why not just ask Comcast, right? A similar parallel exists in the Apple case as well. I'll come back to that.
We wade into topics with strong opinions, as a nation of people, for which we know little about and set forth action plans that are very dangerous for millions of people. The truth is that creating this 'master key' is likely more dangerous to 94 million iPhone users in the United States than the value of the data we may find on Farook's iPhone. Once there is a 'master key' it can be leaked or hacked and fall into the wrong hands exposing millions of Americans to data and identity theft. If you don't think it's possible for such top-secret data to be released, might I remind you of Edward Snowden who revealed the government's top-secret spying program on American citizens and foreign leaders?
But, wait, there's more! On top of this ridiculous demand by our government to Apple, the phone in question was owned by San Bernardino County, California. Why would a government body ever give an employee a phone for which they do not have master-access? If that is not a possible feature with iPhone then they should be using a device that allows such control.
Further, this phone must have an iTunes or iCloud account. I'm curious as to what is available on this actual device that couldn't be reconstructed on one or both of those Apple controlled accounts (where Apple does possess data on their actual servers). Through iTunes they could certainly determine what apps (email or communications programs) Farook was using. Then, the government could subpoena the records of each app developers' servers to reconstruct the data. Those communications went through some server, in some location. There might be a tranche of data if an iCloud account exists of photos, locations, even people.
And, why can't they gather the text, cell tower location and phone call records of Farook's phone to determine with who, what and when he was interacting? Well, that wouldn't give our government the master key to search nearly 100 million Americans' phones without a warrant now would it?
So if the government wants to avoid being put into this situation again, they need to grow a brain and stop giving employees unfettered access and usage of government equipment without the proper security and control measures in place. And, personally, I feel just a little bit safer knowing that there is no way to access my phone's data while it is locked. You should too!
I would agree that if they have a proper warrant, they could be allowed to ask the manufacturer how to get in when it is an extreme case.
I don’t care if they waterboard Tim Cook - unlock the damn phone!
Yes.
And if they don't, the military or CIA should feel free to steal whatever Apple does have.
It's war. You don't let the enemy have a weapons/comms system that you can't attack.
That would be insanity.
.
Yes, the devil is in the details, once you know them. I didn’t know how I thought about this until I learned that it’s not a simple matter of unlocking one phone, it’s creating a whole system which the government, and hackers, can use to spy on any of us.
Fool. If they create a key that would unlock that phone the same key will unlock yours. Good luck, fool.
My understanding is that the government already stores raw trunkline data. The metadata they wanted was a “look up table” with which to search, asssemble, and extract indivdual transmissions. If they had that for Mr. Farook’s conversations, why do they need the phone?
Apple cannot unlock the phone. That was one of the biggest features that it offered to customers when it came out with IOS 8. This was partly due to our wonderfully benevolent government using the NSA to spy on millions of American citizens. This article is one of the best written so far that I have seen on this issue.
The feds screwed up royally by letting those two terrorists into this country knowing that they had ties to other terrorists. They were granted US citizenship. They had traveled to Yemen. They both worked for a local government which means they went through a background check and fingerprinting, and were still hired. The feds already have the telephone numbers from Verizon for the phone in question. What other information could be so vital to national security that the feds need? The feds are usurping a FISO court and issuing an unprecedented order to compel a company to create something, citing a two century old law. Apple is absolutely right in its stance.
“Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Benjamin Franklin
“Do you think Apple should be forced to create a software patch for the iPhone ios (that does not presently exist) in order to assist the government into hacking the terrorist-shooter’s iPhone. Yes. And if they don’t, the military or CIA should feel free to steal whatever Apple does have.”
Wow, you sure you’re not a German holdover from WWII? Adolph HItler would be so proud of you!
FWIW Judge Napolitano on Fox early this morning said that under the law, the Government will loose. They cannot force Apple to make something that doesn’t already exist. The Constitution precludes “enslaving a business” to “work for the government.” The hard fact of the matter is, that the FBI, and Immigration (and a lot of other agencies as well) screwed up royally here. I hope Apple prevails, because this is just the government “not letting a good crisis go to waste.”
It amazes me how many FReepers will lick the Federal jackboot because “we are at war.” When the federal tyrants find that they can do anything in the name of national security they will in fact do ANYTHING! Why would you wish to invite that into your life?
If the feds want the info that bad the constitutional thing to do is have their own programmers crack the phone, not put a gun to the head of Apple programmers and enslave them to do the government’s bidding.
Tim Cook can run for office and then introduce legislation about this and get it passed but until he does then unlock the phone. The only ones benefiting now are the terrorists.
I agree ...... 4th Amendment, never give up liberty for security. NEVER trust government. NEVER NEVER NEVER !
My provider sends me a list / bill each month / day of every call made on the phones on my family account. I let family users know, never put fiscal, personal, sensitive information on any gadget your not willing to share with a stranger because thats where it goes regardless of advertised encryption or data protection ADVERTISED OR PROMISED.
My opinion .....Stay Safe !
I’m not for throwing the exec’s in jail, but removing apple’s tax loopholes or cancelling contract’s would be an appropriate incentive. No more favorable status.
What he said, and what he meant are not what you surmise...
Franklin was not describing some tension between government power and individual liberty. He was describing, rather, effective self-government in the service of security as the very liberty it would be contemptible to trade. Notwithstanding the way the quotation has come down to us, Franklin saw the liberty and security interests of Pennsylvanians as aligned.
https://www.lawfareblog.com/what-ben-franklin-really-said
Apple is correct on this one. This an attempt by the socialist controlers to control us more.
I don’t see how the author could be shocked. Throughout history Americans have ceded power to the government because they thought it would only be used against “hhose” people.
This is a very complex issue.
There was a great thread on FR where this was discussed and there was no trying to digitally kill other posters for their presidential choices.
Warning this is a hard hat and steel toe boot thread. Children and the easily turned off should not go there,
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3399395/posts
I don’t understand this kerfuffle. Isn’t this a warrant situation?
From a related thread . . .
After finding the following comment by cyber-security expert John McAfee, I now disagree with Trumps stance against boycotting Apple. This is for the simple reason that McAfee has indicated that a 15 year old boy recently hacked the FBIs system.
”The very FBI,” McAfee charged, ”who says, ”we will protect this software and only use it on one phone,” that agency was hacked by a 15-year-old boy just last week, who walked off with all the personnel records including, [of] undercover agents.” - John McAfee.
If such is the case, then how can the FBI be trusted to keep an Apple key for the iPhone secure?
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