The Apple Encryption Dilemma  is a Bigger Issue Than Most Think…

Yesterday FOX News Interviewed Me on The Apple Phone Issue…Watch The Video!

The VIDEO REPLY (CLICK)

Here’s the Fox News Article: http://www.fox46charlotte.com/news/local-news/93368477-story

Trump said, “They must open it.” It sounds simple, but he’s wrong in my opinion – Yes, terrorists are hitting our country and planning more attacks. The San Bernadino Phone could provide information that would stop the other attack.  But have you read Tim Cook’s letter on the Apple Site?  News reports like Donald Trump’s Interview miss the main point of it all.

The court is ordering Apple to change their operating system to make it less secure.  What do you think Apple should do?

Some things to think about….

1. Security Experts spend decades developing encryption that will meet FIPS standards, allow for online banking, investing, and money transfers – even Apple Pay!  The government is asking them to now create a backdoor to it all.
2. Nothing digital is actually safe in the long run – who keeps the keys to the new back door?  Does apple or the NSA. What happened when RSA lost their encryption keys? Will this happen again?  Who do you trust with your phone as it becomes more and more the repository of your private life?
3. This is Apple – what if the next terrorist uses Blackberry or Android?  So now there are no secure phones on the market. Do government officials now get a special phone that can’t be tapped into? What if the terrorist is in the government?  Hmmm.  Can that happen – have we seen any military personnel involved in shootings. Texas?

What About Stopping Terrorists…

1. Is this the best next step? Did our government have some indication this couple was getting ready to do something? My understanding is that they did – through Facebook. But were called off by their superiors.  Is this better than some profiling measures?
2. What about gun control? I know this is a hot topic. But the truth is, all good security is based on DETECTION / RESPONSE.  You can’t keep bad guys out. Was there a response plan in place once this couple was detected?  Not a good one – in fact all gun-free zones are targets and Apple Phone encryption won’t stop it.  The bad people are armed – Government can’t stop that. Are the good people able to respond?  Not without a response plan that include self defense and stopping the attacker.
3. Could government issued malware be used, like it was with StuxNet? Is this a better solution that compromising the security our businesses depend on?  This is simply the next step in bugging a phone or staking out someone’s house under court order.

I’d love to hear what you think….

© 2016, David Stelzl