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In a recent attempt to protect strong encryption, the United Kingdom government has allegedly ordered Apple to build a rear door that would allow British security officials to access Apple customers’ encrypted cloud -based data anywhere around the world.
The secret order issued by the UK’s Law of Investigation of the UK 2016 (known as the Snoopers Charta) is to undermine the Opt-in Apple service, which provides full encryption (E2EE) for iCloud backup, called Advanced Data Protection. The encrypted backup only allows Apple customers to access their device to their ICloud data – even Apple can’t access it.
While the UK government rejected the report from the report to comment on Techcrunch, British officials have long claimed that E2EE will make it difficult to collect digital evidence for criminal proceedings and to collect national security intelligence.
Apple’s encrypted backup function, as it is enabled, closes a loophole used by law enforcement to access data stored in the cloud. Otherwise, it was impossible to develop this data on most modern iPhones, where the device encryption is enabled.
The Washington Post which first announced the storyIt said Apple would probably stop offering the iCloud encryption function in the UK as a secret response in response to interrupting users worldwide.
Apple has previously warned that its encrypted communication services, FaceTime and Imessage are in danger in the UK, in response to plans to increase government observation powers.
The consequences worldwide
If Apple has removed UK customers from advanced ICloud encryption, the precipitation will not stop at the country’s borders.
Rebecca Vincent, who is leading Big Brother Watch’s Data Protection and Civil Freedom Campaign group, warned this ‘Draconi’ orders of the UK government would not make citizens saferbut instead, it “worsens the fundamental rights and civil freedoms of the whole population”.
While it is not yet clear how UK order works in practice – Removal of advanced data protection only UK citizens would make cloud -based data available to law enforcement – order news has caused concerns that Apple Device owners have millions of security security in the world it may weaken.
Security and data protection representatives also say that the United Kingdom can create a dangerous global precedent to be used by authoritarian systems and computer criminals – the back door developed for the use of steering is inevitably exploited by hackers and other governments.
Thorin Klosowski, a US -based Electronic Frontier Foundation’s data protection activist, also warned in a blog post that the UK claims have global consequences This makes the secret order for our “emergency”. James Baker at Open Rights Group said last week that the plans are “scary… and everyone is less secure.”
The non -learned security lesson
The impact of the UK government’s order on all over the world has criticized the fear that the United Kingdom could contradict its closest allies.
The news arrives a few weeks after US security authorities urged Americans to use encrypted messaging applications to avoid their communication by competitors. Counseling followed the reports of the Chinese government spies on a critical US infrastructure and a one-year stealth hacking campaign of the Chinese government spies.
The Computer and Communication Industrial Association, the US Technology Industry Group, representing the representative of IT and Telecoms Industries the hacks said The so -called “Typhoon” Chinese -sponsored hackers group makes it clear that “inter -ending encryption can be the only defensive situation for Americans’ sensitive personal and business data and foreign opponents.”
“Decisions on Americans’ privacy and security in America must be made in an open and transparent manner, not through foreign secret orders, to which the keys are left under the doors,” the CCIA said.
Chris Mohr, President of the Software and Information Industry Association in the United States also Issued a similar warningcalling the name of the UK order “both malicious and dangerous”.
“Especially Salt Typhoon requires policies to make information better (no less) safe,” Mohr said, referring to the China-sponsored group aimed at telephone companies. “We call Trump’s administration and the United States Congress to face disturbing developments.”
Chinese hackers for telephone and internet giants, including AT&T and Verizon, are the latest example of the UK government’s background requirements for Apple.
Salt Typhoon has executed the Telco offense, which is one of the biggest hacks in recent history as they abuse a legally authorized rear door required by telecommunications companies to allow law enforcement and intelligence agencies to access customer data upon request.
“The lesson is repeated until they learn: there is no back door that only lets good boys and holds the bad boys,” he says To the Electronic Frontier Foundation– “It’s time for all of us to recognize this and take steps to ensure real security and privacy.”
