Judge Grants Search Warrant Forcing Woman to Unlock iPhone with Touch ID
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Re: Judge Grants Search Warrant Forcing Woman to Unlock iPhone with Touch ID
#2You can be compelled to provide fingerprints based on a warrant; I'm unsurprised (and not particularly bothered) that you can be compelled to use them on your own device. If you care about security, don't use a fingerprint alone; at most, only use it as a second factor for two-factor authentication. More generally, don't use anything that removes your ability to make a choice under duress, in whichever direction you see fit, based on what you're protecting and what you're being threatened with.
I find the ongoing case of someone being jailed indefinitely for refusing to supply a passphrase far more concerning than someone being compelled to supply a fingerprint.
Re: Judge Grants Search Warrant Forcing Woman to Unlock iPhone with Touch ID
#3[deleted]
Re: Judge Grants Search Warrant Forcing Woman to Unlock iPhone with Touch ID
#4You can be compelled to provide fingerprints based on a warrant; I'm unsurprised (and not particularly bothered) that you can be compelled to use them on your own device. If you care about security, don't use a fingerprint alone; at most, only use it as a second factor for two-factor authentication. More generally, don't use anything that removes your ability to make a choice under duress, in whichever direction you…
You've described the state of the law as it is, but surely that doesn't address the issue of the law as it should be. I think that it is possible to be an intelligent but non-technical person and (EDIT: forgot the word 'not') realise that, all technical issues aside, the "something you know" and "something you have" parts of a password are on completely different legal footing; and I think that it is reasonable even for a technical person to wonder whether it should be so.
EDIT: I know that complaints about downvotes are not welcome, and it's quite possible that I'm wrong in what I say, but I'd like to be told how rather than just downvoted! My comment was meant to be a constructive contribution.
EDIT 2: Wow, these many replies help a lot! Thanks!
Re: Judge Grants Search Warrant Forcing Woman to Unlock iPhone with Touch ID
#5Always remember: your fingerprint is identification. You can be forced to identify yourself to law enforcement. Do not make it your password. Your password is something you know, not something you are.
Re: Judge Grants Search Warrant Forcing Woman to Unlock iPhone with Touch ID
#6This... makes sense. You can be compelled to produce your fingerprints, or a physical key, or really anything physical with a warrant. It's the issue of producing KNOWLEDGE from your mind alone that is really the issue most of us care about, or at least, it's a newer issue.
Re: Judge Grants Search Warrant Forcing Woman to Unlock iPhone with Touch ID
#7Always remember: your fingerprint is identification. You can be forced to identify yourself to law enforcement. Do not make it your password. Your password is something you know, not something you are.
Something you know, and ... something you can forget.
Re: Judge Grants Search Warrant Forcing Woman to Unlock iPhone with Touch ID
#8Always remember: your fingerprint is identification. You can be forced to identify yourself to law enforcement. Do not make it your password. Your password is something you know, not something you are.
Or just restart your iPhone.
Re: Judge Grants Search Warrant Forcing Woman to Unlock iPhone with Touch ID
#9Touch ID is disabled when an iPhone initially powers on. So, if you want to prevent law enforcement compelling you to decrypt using your fingerprint, hold down the power button and then slide right to power off the phone. Now they need your password.
Re: Judge Grants Search Warrant Forcing Woman to Unlock iPhone with Touch ID
#10Always remember: your fingerprint is identification. You can be forced to identify yourself to law enforcement. Do not make it your password. Your password is something you know, not something you are.
Or just restart your iPhone.
I've heard more than one person say if you're going to have to surrender your phone, if there's even the risk of it, turn it off.