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Apple hires one of the developers behind Signal

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Re: Apple hires one of the developers behind Signal

#41

Post by microtonal »

saurik wrote: post #14
Vivtek wrote: post #5

I'm starting to think Apple has found its first viable post-Jobs narrative.

I would say that this has been Tim Cook's narrative for a while, and along this path we've seen iOS integrate things like WiFi MAC randomization and website ad blocking.

I would say that this has been Tim Cook's narrative for a while,

While part of it may be PR, I also believe that these are Tim Cook's values shining through. Having an orientation that gets you jailed or killed in some countries, makes you value individual freedom and privacy.

It's great to see this new Apple.

Re: Apple hires one of the developers behind Signal

#42

Post by microtonal »

gear54rus wrote: post #36
Vivtek wrote: post #5

I'm starting to think Apple has found its first viable post-Jobs narrative.

This is all a waste and show off as far as I'm concerned until they go open on everything. With this move, they will also waste very valuable developer's (crypto experience ain't cheap) skills.

This is all a waste and show off as far as I'm concerned until they go open on everything.

What would that bring them? Other companies would rip off iOS, bastardize & put their slow skins on it, and never release security updates (or modified source files).

I agree that opening up security infrastructure would be good though.

Re: Apple hires one of the developers behind Signal

#43

Post by rimantas »

gear54rus wrote: post #36
Vivtek wrote: post #5

I'm starting to think Apple has found its first viable post-Jobs narrative.

This is all a waste and show off as far as I'm concerned until they go open on everything. With this move, they will also waste very valuable developer's (crypto experience ain't cheap) skills.

So having his work on billion of devices is a waste in your view? Ok.

Re: Apple hires one of the developers behind Signal

#44

Post by izacus »

kriro wrote: post #39
ianamartin wrote: post #3

I can understand how people want to put puzzle pieces together, but this is completely idiotic. Whatever remaining security holes there are with secure enclave, they have nothing to do with a software chat app. This is entirely coincidental and has nothing to do with anything. TechCrunch should be ashamed of itself (again) for being such a douchebag. Edit: I'm not saying Apple hiring the guy is stupid. I'm responding…

I disagree and think this is potentially big news. You push us to relax security...we push back by trying to make a play in the secure chat (for everyone not just iPhone users) market which would make your life a lot harder. The market is tough but it would be interesting if Apple would actually enter it. They have enough power to seed the network effect needed with a large enough user base. I think this entire saga…

The worrying this is that Apple really has a terrible record of making their solutions available to other platforms. A secure communication software that will only work well on Apple platforms and have a half-broken solution for perhaps one more is not really the direction we want to move to :/

Re: Apple hires one of the developers behind Signal

#45

Post by Coding_Cat »

gear54rus wrote: post #36
Vivtek wrote: post #5

I'm starting to think Apple has found its first viable post-Jobs narrative.

This is all a waste and show off as far as I'm concerned until they go open on everything. With this move, they will also waste very valuable developer's (crypto experience ain't cheap) skills.

I am not, nor have I ever been, a big fan of Apple. (apart from all the usuall complaints, I am one of those freaks who just doesn't like Apple's interface & design). But this is a step in the right direction. Would it be better if it were more open? sure. Is it useless if it isn't? not really, it still protects the users and puts pressure on other manufacturers to do something similar.

Who knows, maybe internally they're even looking at making things more open but that could require a lot more work w.r.t. scanning for patents and such in their code and perhaps they want to have a strong solid release of whatever they would consider a "full system" before they put up their code for all to see.

Apple doen't, historically, have much of a history of opening up but they did open up Swift recently. Perhaps new winds are starting to blow like they did at Microsoft.

Re: Apple hires one of the developers behind Signal

#46

Post by etiam »

gear54rus wrote: post #36
Vivtek wrote: post #5

I'm starting to think Apple has found its first viable post-Jobs narrative.

This is all a waste and show off as far as I'm concerned until they go open on everything. With this move, they will also waste very valuable developer's (crypto experience ain't cheap) skills.

I'm inclined to agree in that they can't really be trusted if they can't be thoroughly audited and all the lockdown is an obstruction to that.

On the other hand I think they could really be doing good things behind the veils, and that could benefit very large numbers of people who don't have the knowledge or inclination to defend their own communications, (and anyone who has the knowledge and inclination but also the misfortune of needing to communicate with those who don't).

I don't know anything about Jacobs beyond what we've just seen here, but I would guess someone who has worked on that level with Open Whisper Systems wouldn't be prone to accepting poor security design, nor to accepting unethical practices in handling user information. I'd be much happier with an open Apple Inc. too, but as long as it keeps standing for a closed and locked environment, Jacobs seems like just the kind of person I would want working there.

Re: Apple hires one of the developers behind Signal

#47

Post by imron »

ianamartin wrote: post #15
imron wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, but this is very likely to be them tightening up other parts of their software stack.

Oh right. All the other insecure parts of their software stack. You know, all that other insecure stuff that's notoriously insecure. That one guy who wrote a chat app is going to tighten up. Come on. Don't pretend this is anything more than it is. A really hard-working guy worked hard and built a thing that worth while. Apple said, "hmmm, it would be easier to buy this person than to hire him." So they did. There is…

> All the other insecure parts of their software stack

I didn't say all the other parts, or that he's going to do it singlehandedly. Maybe they want to improve end-to-end encryption for iMessage or similar and figure he's got relevant experience.

> Apple's problems, such as they are, are systemic and cultural.

Possibly, but even then, I would argue that this current situation is a culturally defining moment for post-Jobs Apple, maybe even strong enough to override other parts of their culture.

One thing for sure, it's being driven from the very top down and Tim Cook is making clear, unequivocal comments about where the line in the sand is.

Re: Apple hires one of the developers behind Signal

#48

Post by benevol »

microtonal wrote: post #41
saurik wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would say that this has been Tim Cook's narrative for a while, and along this path we've seen iOS integrate things like WiFi MAC randomization and website ad blocking.

I would say that this has been Tim Cook's narrative for a while, While part of it may be PR, I also believe that these are Tim Cook's values shining through. Having an orientation that gets you jailed or killed in some countries, makes you value individual freedom and privacy. It's great to see this new Apple.

> While part of it may be PR

It definitely is. The NSA has access to all this data anyways. They just need to get it nailed down legally now, as far as possible.

Apple just can't be seen as collaborating.

Re: Apple hires one of the developers behind Signal

#49

Post by mc808 »

studentrob wrote: post #37
teamhappy wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How about the first paragraph? > Apple hires plenty of interns all year round, but one particular addition > revealed this week caught the eye given the company’s current position > opposing a controversial order to enable the FBI to access the iPhone used > by one of the San Bernardino shooters. // Of course it's worth writing about, but it certainly would have been higher quality reporting if they didn't immediatel…

That is hardly a misinterpretation of events. They're just saying, "hey, there's this software developer who's done some work in the field of security on an app which is famous, and he's going to work at Apple during a time when some issues with Apple's security are in the news. And we noticed and we want to share that with you" It's interesting. Tech Crunch can write about whatever they want. If you don't like the a…

> If you don't like the article, downvote it and move on.

Generally it's courteous to leave a comment explaining a downvote before moving on.

Re: Apple hires one of the developers behind Signal

#50

Post by Cyph0n »

microtonal wrote: post #41
saurik wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would say that this has been Tim Cook's narrative for a while, and along this path we've seen iOS integrate things like WiFi MAC randomization and website ad blocking.

I would say that this has been Tim Cook's narrative for a while, While part of it may be PR, I also believe that these are Tim Cook's values shining through. Having an orientation that gets you jailed or killed in some countries, makes you value individual freedom and privacy. It's great to see this new Apple.

Why does his orientation have to be included when we discuss his ideals and motivations?
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