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Under iOS 11, authorities won’t be able to image your device without a passcode

arstechnica.com

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Re: Under iOS 11, authorities won’t be able to image your device without a passcode

#41

Post by taormina »

steve19 wrote: post #39
dkonofalski wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not anti-freedom. It's just pro-ease-of-use and it's easier to guarantee a quality experience when there are less unknowns and less variables to account for. When everyone is using the same device with the same software, it's much easier to guarantee a great experience.

Allowing side loading of apps would not impact usability in anyway. Edit: It would massively increase the usability, allowing any apps to be installed, not just Apple approved apps, making the phone more usable to many people. Back in the day I had to buy a dev account just to load an emulator I wanted to use (it was open source) without rooting.

But can ruin your privacy guarantees.

Re: Under iOS 11, authorities won’t be able to image your device without a passcode

#42

Post by nothrabannosir »

dkonofalski wrote: post #34
StavrosK wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is very true, but I find it very sad that, as much as Apple is pro-privacy, it's very anti-freedom. I'd love to switch to a device as private as an iPhone, but at this point you're just renting the device from them.

It's not anti-freedom. It's just pro-ease-of-use and it's easier to guarantee a quality experience when there are less unknowns and less variables to account for. When everyone is using the same device with the same software, it's much easier to guarantee a great experience.

I see your point, but: That's not an excuse, that's an explanation. It is anti freedom whether that's their end game or not. I don't really care about Apples motives, I care about the product.

Really, Apple is anti Nothing and pro only one thing: money. Everything else is a corollary. Including ease of use, freedom, and privacy. It's just that those things do matter to me (and GP).

Re: Under iOS 11, authorities won’t be able to image your device without a passcode

#43

Post by bad_user »

pavement wrote: post #9
ianferrel wrote: post #4

In the February 2017 case of a California artist who was questioned at San Francisco International Airport upon re-entry, after he finally agreed to unlock his iPhone, it was taken out of his sight for several minutes and could have been imaged without his knowledge. Under iOS 11, unless the artist, Aaron Gach, decided to actually give up the passcode (rather than type it in himself), he could at least have been reas…

This is a rare case where multi-factor authentication, and the option to involve biometrics as hardened sub-layer auth, would be nice. To be adequately effective, though, all back-up activities would require the full authentication credentials for all verification factors, which might only be possible with, say, a fingerprint scanner (touchbar) equipped laptop, or additional external hardware peripherals for other ty…

"Multi-factor authentication" doesn't make sense unless you're communicating with a server over the network. Biometrics can be copied and faked. Ultimately it's security theater.

Nothing beats a strong password.

Re: Under iOS 11, authorities won’t be able to image your device without a passcode

#44

Post by mikeash »

taormina wrote: post #41
steve19 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Allowing side loading of apps would not impact usability in anyway. Edit: It would massively increase the usability, allowing any apps to be installed, not just Apple approved apps, making the phone more usable to many people. Back in the day I had to buy a dev account just to load an emulator I wanted to use (it was open source) without rooting.

But can ruin your privacy guarantees.

How? Sideloaded apps would still be sandboxed.

Re: Under iOS 11, authorities won’t be able to image your device without a passcode

#45

Post by komali2 »

Prefinem wrote: post #16
matt_wulfeck wrote: post #8

I have never seen a company both so technically capable and supportive of user privacy as Apple. It stands completely apart from all of the tech giants of today.

This is the only reason why I moved from Android to iOS even though I enjoy the Android phones and Google Fi more. I wish Google Fi would support iOS devices.

This change alone is tempting me, and I have been diehard anti-apple for about a decade now for walled-garden reasons.

I know, I know, walled garden prevents users from opening their phone to vulnerabilities or guaranteeing a secure experience. I guess I wish I could have my cake and eat it too.

Re: Under iOS 11, authorities won’t be able to image your device without a passcode

#46

Post by eropple »

mikeash wrote: post #44
taormina wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But can ruin your privacy guarantees.

How? Sideloaded apps would still be sandboxed.

Sideloaded apps make attacks on non-sideloaded stuff a lot easier.

Re: Under iOS 11, authorities won’t be able to image your device without a passcode

#47

Post by throw2016 »

When you need Apple or any technology to fight for your privacy against your own government you know you are in serious trouble.

The government has no right to interfere with your personal effects, this is fundamental to freedom and democracy, and the idea of the private individual.

Yet it seems this too is 'normalized' and citizens are more interested in technology workarounds to deal with this abuse from the state.

Re: Under iOS 11, authorities won’t be able to image your device without a passcode

#48

Post by bobsil1 »

X86BSD wrote: post #33
valine wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple is adding a kill switch to iOS 11 that lets you discreetly disable Touch ID (and presumably Face ID) by hitting the power button 5 times. And of course if you're concerned you can opt out of Touch or Face ID entirely and simply use a pass-code. https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/17/16161758/ios-11-touch-id-...

I think I would prefer the passcode which can be set to a length much larger than 4 digits when travelling or getting anywhere near fed-gov.

Default PIN has been 6 digits since iOS 10, and you can make it a long passphrase instead.
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