Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not sure what would be accomplished if the source leaked. Someone would still need to maintain both the client and now a new set of servers. This would be difficult given that Microsoft would almost certainly use whatever means they could to stop this from happening.
Wasn’t Skype pre-MS P2P, not server based?
Zoom lied to users about end-to-end encryption for years, FTC says
161–170 of 438 posts
Re: Zoom lied to users about end-to-end encryption for years, FTC says
#162Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not sure what would be accomplished if the source leaked. Someone would still need to maintain both the client and now a new set of servers. This would be difficult given that Microsoft would almost certainly use whatever means they could to stop this from happening.
https://escargot.log1p.xyz/
Re: Zoom lied to users about end-to-end encryption for years, FTC says
#163Earlier quoted context omitted.
So it's okay that Zoom lied because users should have reverse engineered it to verify that what Zoom said about their own product was true?
No, if a company was really worried they shouldn't have opted for a cloud product with a (partly) Chinese-owned company. A lot of companies go through the trouble of giving their employees (especially management) "throw away" phones and/or computers when they send them to "problematic" places, in particular China, but then they install Zoom for their C-level and middle management executives to use, huh?
Re: Zoom lied to users about end-to-end encryption for years, FTC says
#164Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm still not a native English speaker, but a Google search shows that non-paying customers are people who don't pay their bills, which is not the same thing as users who don't have bills to pay. Also as I wrote, Zoom was thinking of selling E2E encryption as a payed feature, that's why the distinction really matters (I would happily pay for it if that would give me a strong assurance that I just don't have so far).
Non-paying customers can mean either customers who are delinquent in paying their bills, or customers that are using the service for free with permission.
Re: Zoom lied to users about end-to-end encryption for years, FTC says
#165I think the assumed implication with E2EE is that no one other than the partcipants can get at the content of your communications. To do that you need: 1. All cryptographic keys controlled by the users. 2. Some way to confirm you are actually connected to who you think you are connected to. 3. A way to confirm that the code you are running is not leaking keys/content. So Zoom failed on all 3 points. There are lots of…
Are you referring to the "scan this QR code to verify your partner's key" function in secure messaging apps? I definitely use that. I try to keep all my primary contact's keys verified. It's harder during COVID when you're not meeting up in person as often, because anything besides meeting in person and verifying the two devices directly exposes you to another unverified channel.
It's very hard to bootstrap this stuff. Sure, "web of trust" but that's hard too. Speaking of which, didn't Keybase get bought by zoom to help with exactly these issues?
Re: Zoom lied to users about end-to-end encryption for years, FTC says
#166Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Here are the keys to your new car" "Where are the wheels?" "Well... we delivered most of what was purchased so you don't get to complain."
Good example. If you bought a $40k car and it didn't come with wheels, the damages would be the amount to remedy the missing wheels, not $40k.
Ford once paid $300M for a faulty airbags thing, but that was negligence whereas this is fraud. Of course this isn't a lethal risk.
I would think the case would have legs. Haven't a clue how much for.
Re: Zoom lied to users about end-to-end encryption for years, FTC says
#167If Zoom made clear to users that connections were not secured to the same standards as competitors, and that potentially hundreds of employees could be silently listening in on any call, I think that would have prevented them becoming a leader in video conference tech. So the right fine here is their entire market cap. That would put them back at square one, which is where an honest competitor would be right now.
> the right fine here is their entire market cap. That would put them back at square one I don't think Zoom has transgressed anywhere nearly this badly, but even if I did it doesn't make sense to fine any company their entire value unless your goal is simply to destroy them. The company is only worth as much as it is because it is expected to continue as a company, and there would be no way for it to continue if it o…
Effectively, allow the company to continue as before, but wipe out all shareholders. After all, they are the people who allowed this behaviour. They are the ultimate decision makers.
Re: Zoom lied to users about end-to-end encryption for years, FTC says
#168Earlier quoted context omitted.
>What a slap on the wrist. "You blatantly lied to your customers for years. How about you just continue to implement the thing that you were working on anyways." Honestly - that's inline with the severity of the crime. >I don't think punishment is always the best solution but it seems that you should at least set some sort of example. I'm not a fan of regulatory bodies making examples of companies for minor infractio…
Is it minor? From my perspective, making security guarantees about a product is the same whether that product is software or hardware. If somebody guaranteed that their ferris wheel had x safety feature, then it turned out to be untrue, nobody would call that a minor infraction.
Obviously we should be utilizing critical thinking ourselves, but I think that we also need the threat of punishment. Because if we have that threat one critical thinker can report the problem and it will be solved for everyone. If there is no punishment then there is no incentive for companies to tell the truth.
Re: Zoom lied to users about end-to-end encryption for years, FTC says
#169> Zoom has agreed to a requirement to establish and implement a comprehensive security program, a prohibition on privacy and security misrepresentations, and other detailed and specific relief to protect its user base What a slap on the wrist. "You blatantly lied to your customers for years. How about you just continue to implement the thing that you were working on anyways." I don't think punishment is always the be…
Punishment is the best solution. Incentives are what drive behavior, and learning that you can get away with lying will just lead to more getting away with lying.
[1] https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Shoot-Dog-Teaching-Training/dp/0...
Re: Zoom lied to users about end-to-end encryption for years, FTC says
#170Earlier quoted context omitted.
Punishment is the best solution. Incentives are what drive behavior, and learning that you can get away with lying will just lead to more getting away with lying.
When it comes to training humans and animals, positive punishment is far less effective than most other training techniques like positive reinforcement. Don't Shoot the Dog[1]! [1] https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Shoot-Dog-Teaching-Training/dp/0...
But more generally, it's not obvious that individual, "reptile-brain" incentives translate to large company leadership. I'd be hugely skeptical of applying positive psychology to international corporate leadership, but what do I know anyway.