Manhattan DA Fires Back After Apple CEO Defends Stance On App Encryption

Joe Link · Dec 21, 2015

I'm not surprised by this at all. They're probably both doing the same thing, but from a privacy standpoint I trust Apple more than Google (which is why I'm an iPhone user).

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/12/21/tim-cook-cyrus-vance-encryption/

Caveman Jim · Dec 21, 2015

If the GOV doesn't get its way to secretly spy on us un-knowing Americans it will pass backdoor legislation to get it. They are above the law!!!!

tunus · Dec 21, 2015

Joe Link said:
They're probably both doing the same thing, but from a privacy standpoint I trust Apple more than Google (which is why I'm an iPhone user).

I feel exactly opposite to this. With Apple, you agree to their TOS as soon as you turn on your phone for a first time and from that point on, you have very little control over what information your apps are accessing on your phone. With Google, you also agree with their TOS, but you have complete control over what information the apps can access. For example, I downloaded some photo editing app and it asked for permission to access my contacts and messages. I can't envision any scenario where a photo editing app will need my contacts, so I denied its access request.

I have also turned off all services that upload my personal information to google for the sake of improving my experience. I don't want google to back up my media, remember where I've been or sync my accounts and passwords across devices. I also go a step further and encrypt my media just in case I lose my phone.

I am not a huge fan of google either, but at least I have more control over what personal information is leaked through apps and services. That doesn't seem to be the case with Apple.

bolus · Dec 21, 2015

Caveman Jim said:
If the GOV doesn't get its way to secretly spy on until knowing Americanso it will pass backdoor legislation to get it. They are above the law!!!!

CISA passed with the budget. It already happened.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersecurity_Information_Sharing_Act

Caveman Jim · Dec 21, 2015

bolus said:
CISA passed with the budget. It already happened.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersecurity_Information_Sharing_Act

¡\♤●>●>●6|}4♡|■<\||2}○[_!^÷%!_#€=¥÷&+//+&!*! ¥!)_)&(^=^£× ME!!!!

slimmer13 · Dec 21, 2015

I actually watched the Tim Cook interview last night on 60 min and he said that when the government gets a warrant, Apple turns over everything they have but the gov is pissed because not even Apple can bypass the encryption on these apps.

I don't know though, I assume everything I ever type or read is ran through NSA.

bolus · Dec 21, 2015

slimer13 said:
I actually watched the Tim Cook interview last night on 60 min and he said that when the government gets a warrant, Apple turns over everything they have but the gov is pissed because not even Apple can bypass the encryption on these apps.

I don't know though, I assume everything I ever type or read is ran through NSA.

Snowden and other whistle blowers have said that there really isnt any encryption that the NSA cant break. So yes, assume all you email and web use is recorded. But as San Bernandino showed, you can go on facebook and announce you are a terrorist and it does not really matter.

ZigZagZeke · Dec 21, 2015

Joe Link said:
I'm not surprised by this at all. They're probably both doing the same thing, but from a privacy standpoint I trust Apple more than Google (which is why I'm an iPhone user).

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/12/21/tim-cook-cyrus-vance-encryption/

You're smart, Joe. Apple's systems are designed to be secure. Apple does not make money mining your data. They don't want to. Mining your data and selling information about you and your habits to advertisers is Google's primary way of making money. That's how they can afford to give their services and products away. There is no comparison between Apple and Google for security. Google's operating systems are "open", meaning you are free to hack their products as you see fit. It also means all the bad guys can hack their products too.

Here's an example:

Apple Pay uses near field technology to make payments at checkout terminals in stores. You authorize payment when your phone recognizes your fingerprint. That makes it very difficult for someone who steals your phone to make fraudulent purchases. The transaction data does not include any of your personal information, or your ATM/Credit card information. It is sent encrypted and you are identified by a one-time code that's generated. The bank is the only entity that can decode the data because they have a security token that matches your phone. If the data was intercepted the code would be worthless since it is only good for that transaction. The merchant does not receive any identifying information about who bought the items, so their loyalty card programs don't work with Apple Pay.

Google wallet is used in the same way at the terminal, but the transaction is processed exactly as if you had swiped an ATM/credit card, passing your personal and card information to the merchant and to the bank. If the data is intercepted or the phone is lost you're in a world of hurt.

I'm sensitive to this because I've been a victim of data breaches like Home Depot and Target had. I use Apple Pay wherever possible, so that if a merchant's system is breached again my data will not be in the merchant's system.