This week’s headline story: Apple vs. the FBI
The FBI is calling on Apple to override the auto-erase function on the iPhone of San Bernardino gunman Syed Rizwan Farook. The judge is giving Apple until Friday to comply, so far, Apple is openly defying the order. You may recall that Syed Farook and his wife, opened fire on people at a holiday gathering in San Bernardino, killing 14 people and seriously wounding 20 others.
The FBI believes that Syed’s phone could provide important information about the shooting. Syed’s phone isn’t the only one waiting for a frisk. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said at a news conference that investigators cannot access 175 Apple devices sitting in his cybercrime lab because of encryption embedded in the company’s latest operating systems “They’re warrant proof,” he said, adding that the inability to peer inside the devices was especially problematic because so much evidence once stored in file cabinets, on paper, and in vaults, is now only on criminals’ smartphones.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said the judge’s order has implications far beyond the legal case at hand. He said he wanted Apple customers and the general population to understand what’s at stake. “Customers expect Apple and other technology companies to do everything in our power to protect their personal information, and at Apple we are deeply committed to safeguarding their data,” Cook said. “Compromising the security of our personal information can ultimately put our personal safety at risk. That is why encryption has become so important to all of us.” But the FBI says it isn’t asking Apple to create backdoor access to ALL iPhones, just to retrieve information from one phone.
Other big tech companies, including Twitter, Facebook and Google are lining up behind Apple in what looks as though it will develop into a long court battle.
- Apple Defies Court Order To Unlock San Bernardino Shooter’s iPhone [NewsFactor]
- White House Says FBI Doesn’t Want Backdoor Access to All iPhones [NewsFactor]
- How Apple Ended Up in the Government’s Encryption Crosshairs [NewsFactor]
- NYC Police: Criminals Call Apple Encryption a ‘Gift from God’ [NewsFactor]
- Profit or Patriotism? What’s Driving Fight Between U.S. and Apple [NewsFactor]
- Big Tech Companies Are Joining Apple in Its Encryption Fight [NewsFactor]
- Bill Gates Says FBI-Apple Fight not ‘Black and White’ [NewsFactor]
Other Headline News…
- Mobile World Congress: A Look at What’s on Tap in Barcelona [NewsFactor]
The theme of this year’s Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona this week, is “Mobile is Everything.” the 2016 event is putting a focus on the potential of mobile technology to improve the lives of billions of people around the world. In addition to social good, the event will serve as a launchpad for many new technologies including 5G connectivity, wearables, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
in Information Security News…
- After computer hack, L.A. hospital pays $17,000 in bitcoin ransom to get back medical records [Washington Post]
A large Los Angeles hospital, that fell victim to what’s commonly called “ransomware,” chose to pay hackers $17,000 in bitcoins to regain access to its computer network. The CEO said the decision was in its best interest and the most efficient way to end the problem. - Flaw Could Enable Hackers To Hijack Wireless Keyboards and Mice [NewsFactor]
A major new vulnerability could put millions of systems using wireless keyboards and mice at risk. The flaw, dubbed “MouseJack,” lets a hacker type arbitrary commands into a victim’s computer by hacking into the wireless keyboard connection, from up to 328 feet away using only a $15 USB dongle.
and in Tech Industry news…
- Camera Boost, Virtual Reality in New Samsung, LG Gadgets [NewsFactor]
Samsung and LG are looking to revive interest in smartphones by improving their cameras and embracing the nascent world of virtual reality.
Samsung is being backed by Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, who said Sunday the companies are teaming up to push VR in mobile phones and social networking. “Together this is by far the best mobile VR experience you can offer,” Zuckerberg said at Samsung’s unveiling of their new flagship phones in Barcelona.