U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices • Hacker News Board

Re: U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices

#61

Post by dontwhy » Sat, Dec 21, 2019, 5:27 PM UTC

welder wrote: post #58

dontwhy wrote: post #53

Tiktok should be kicked out from our country. Chinese government ban everything(google, facebook, twitter, instgram, ...) of our country, why their company can make money in our country?

An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.

when our Aircraft carrier is under attack, you won't say that again

Re: U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices

#62

Post by cm2187 » Sat, Dec 21, 2019, 5:28 PM UTC

What sort of vetting does Microsoft do on drivers written by manufacturers that ship with Windows?

Re: U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices

#63

Post by diminish » Sat, Dec 21, 2019, 5:30 PM UTC

Now the world will see Google & Facebook & Apple as security threats.

Re: U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices

#64

Post by scottlawson » Sat, Dec 21, 2019, 5:33 PM UTC

Trias11 wrote: post #26

Why's "ban" needed? Government should have full control over government issued devices and only whitelisted modifications should be allowed. If it's not this way - someone at government should be held accountable for jeopardizing the security of the nation.

> A Navy spokesman said Naval and Marine personnel who use government issued smart devices are generally allowed to use popular commercial apps, including common social media apps, but from time to time specific programs that present security threats are banned. He would not give examples of apps that are allowed or those considered unsafe.

Re: U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices

#65

Post by stilisstuk » Sat, Dec 21, 2019, 5:37 PM UTC

CivBase wrote: post #54

Trias11 wrote: post #26

Why's "ban" needed? Government should have full control over government issued devices and only whitelisted modifications should be allowed. If it's not this way - someone at government should be held accountable for jeopardizing the security of the nation.

I'm guessing those phones are to ensure their owners have a dedicated communication channel and a platform to run non-critical tech necessary for their job. Apps for non-sensitive emails, schedules, maps, org directories, etc. If the government is putting sensitive military data on an Android or iOS phone, you should be concerned. A whitelist would not be a sufficient safeguard.

We use Citrix secure hub on iPhone (mail, VPN etc). Appstore is allowed also (minecraft etc)

Re: U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices

#66

Post by bdcravens » Sat, Dec 21, 2019, 5:39 PM UTC

jomoio wrote: post #48

choward wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All the "apps" you mentioned should just be well designed web sites. No reason for an app.

Good point, we'll get the Navy right on that.

The point is that if you argue a soldier shouldn't have Target or Amazon on their phone, it's pointless, as they still have Safari or Chrome.

Re: U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices

#67

Post by mjcl » Sat, Dec 21, 2019, 5:40 PM UTC

manuelflara wrote: post #27

kristianc wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They already have Grindr (for now)

That sale was blocked due to security concerns, so no.

Currently Grindr is owned by Kunlun, but they have agreed to sell it by June 2020.

Re: U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices

#68

Post by kova12 » Sat, Dec 21, 2019, 5:40 PM UTC

Trias11 wrote: post #26

Why's "ban" needed? Government should have full control over government issued devices and only whitelisted modifications should be allowed. If it's not this way - someone at government should be held accountable for jeopardizing the security of the nation.

Because employees feel that they deserve to use Facebook and such on their government issued devices, and if you deny them their God given right, you are racist, sexist, and otherwise despicable person

Re: U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices

#69

Post by Enginerrrd » Sat, Dec 21, 2019, 5:40 PM UTC

CivBase wrote: post #54

Trias11 wrote: post #26

Why's "ban" needed? Government should have full control over government issued devices and only whitelisted modifications should be allowed. If it's not this way - someone at government should be held accountable for jeopardizing the security of the nation.

I'm guessing those phones are to ensure their owners have a dedicated communication channel and a platform to run non-critical tech necessary for their job. Apps for non-sensitive emails, schedules, maps, org directories, etc. If the government is putting sensitive military data on an Android or iOS phone, you should be concerned. A whitelist would not be a sufficient safeguard.

I think it's more an issue that non-sensitive data can still be harvested and turned into sensitive data. So for example, troop movements are sensitive. They probably wouldn't be coordinating those over unofficial channels. And normally if, say, a soldier says "I love you" to his family, that's not really sensitive. If all of a sudden, 40% of the soldiers on a base do that though, that's leaking sensitive data.

Re: U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices

#70

Post by danso » Sat, Dec 21, 2019, 5:41 PM UTC

dontwhy wrote: post #53

Tiktok should be kicked out from our country. Chinese government ban everything(google, facebook, twitter, instgram, ...) of our country, why their company can make money in our country?

Because the U.S. tends toward having a free market?