Forget helping the FBI, Apple is making security even tighter

By

Hacker who tried to extort Apple for $100k is spared prison
Apple is making iCloud more secure than ever.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple is doubling down on its beliefs about user privacy, by working on a new encryption method that will mean it can no longer decode user information stored in iCloud.

While Apple has steadfastly refused to create an iPhone backdoor during the current case concerning the phone belonging to one of the suspected terrorists in last year’s San Bernardino shooting, it has turned over data shooter Syed Rizwan Farook had backed up on its iCloud service. Under its new encryption efforts, the company would no longer be able to do this.

This would pose another dilemma for law enforcement who, according to law firm partner and former Virginia federal prosecutor Edward McAndrew, “very significantly and very often” rely on iCloud data during investigations.

There’s no word on exactly when Apple plans to upgrade iCloud security, but apparently the company is trying to work out how to do this in a way that doesn’t inconvenience users by adding unnecessary complexity.

Hey, you can’t accuse Apple of not following through on its beliefs in this case, can you?

Source: WSJ

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.