Earlier quoted context omitted.
> logging into MS Teams I mean, this is one application nobody should ever log into!
That's nice. I, however, like getting my paycheck, and so I have no choice.
Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
311–320 of 694 posts
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#312FYI BitLocker is on by default in Windows 11. The defaults will also upload the BitLocker key to a Microsoft Account if available. This is why the FBI can compel Microsoft to provide the keys. It's possible, perhaps even likely, that the suspect didn't even know they had an encrypted laptop. Journalists love the "Microsoft gave " framing because it makes Microsoft sound like they're handing these out because they lik…
You mean "Install Linux",because that's easier than dealing with the steps required to do that on Windows
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#313Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Back in the day hackernews had some fire and resistance. Most of the comments are fire and resistance, but they commonly take ragebait and run with the assumptions built-in to clickbait headlines. > Too many tech workers decided to rollover for the government and that's why we are in this mess now. I take it you've never worked at a company when law enforcement comes knocking for data? The internet tough guy fantas…
> I take it you've never worked at a company when law enforcement comes knocking for data? The solution to that is to not have the data in the first place. You can't avoid the warrants for data if you collect it, so the next best thing is to not collect it in the first place.
The technology exists to trivially encrypt your data if you want to. That's not a product most people want, because the vast majority of people (1) will forget their password and don't want to lose their data, and (2) aren't particularly worried about the feds barging in and taking their laptop during a criminal investigation.
That's not what the idealists want, but that's the way the market works. When the state has a warrant, and you've got a backdoor, you're going to need to give the state the keys to the backdoor.
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#314Earlier quoted context omitted.
Uploading your encryption keys up to someone else's machine is not a sensible default
It generally is, because in the vast majority of cases users will not keep a local copy and will lose their data. Most (though not all) users are looking for encryption to protect their data from a thief who steals their laptop and who could extract their passwords, banking info, etc. Not from the government using a warrant in a criminal investigation. If you're one of the subset of people worried about the governmen…
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#315Earlier quoted context omitted.
They can't force you to tell them your PIN in some countries, but they can try all PINs, and they can search your desk drawer to find the post-it where you wrote your PIN.
Good PINs are ones you're not allowed to brute force. You can easily configure an iPhone to wipe itself after too many wrong guesses. There's a single checkbox labeled "Erase Data", saying "Erase all data on this iPhone after 10 failed passcode attempts." You bet I have that enabled.
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#316Hear that? It's the sound of the year of the Linux desktop. It's time - it's never been easier, and there's nothing you'll miss about Windows.
I've tried to get them to use the web version of office, I've tried to get them to use OnlyOffice and LibreOffice, I've even tried showing them LaTeX as a last ditch effort, but no, if it isn't true Microsoft Branded Office 2024, the topic isn't even worth discussing [1].
I'm sure there are technical reasons why Wine can't run Office 2024, and I am certainly not trying to criticize the wine developers at all, but until I can show Wine running full-fat MS Office, my parents will always "miss" Windows.
To be clear, I hate MS Office. I do not miss it on Linux. I'm pretty sure my parents could get by just fine with LibreOffice or OnlyOffice or Google Docs, but they won't hear it.
I've also tried to get them to use macOS, since that does have a full-fat MS Office, I've even offered to buy them Macbooks so they can't claim it's "too expensive", and they still won't hear it. I love my parents but they can be stubborn.
[1] Before you accuse me of pushing for "developer UI", LaTeX was not something I led with. I tried the more "normy-friendly" options first.
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#317Earlier quoted context omitted.
KYC/AML is luckily still confined to the financial sector. There's no law for operating system vendors to do KYC/AML.
There is no law yet . Where I live, government passed a similar law to the UK's online identification law not too long ago. It creates obligations for operating system vendors to provide secure identity verification mechanisms. Can't just ask the user if they're over 18 and believe the answer. The goal is of course to censor social media platforms by "regulating" them under the guise of protecting children. In practi…
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#318Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Any power users who prefer their own key management should follow the steps to enable Bitlocker without uploading keys to a connected Microsoft account. Except the steps to to that are disable bitlocker, create a local user account (assuming you initially signed in with a Microsoft account because Ms now forces it on you for home editions of windows), delete your existing keys from OneDrive, then re-encrypt using y…
With Bitlocker it is still possible to have single password-based key. But enabling that requires to enter a few commands on the command line.
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#319Earlier quoted context omitted.
[flagged]
I can't believe it took this long. We have mandatory identification for all kinds of things that are illegal to purchase or engage in under a certain age. Nobody wants to prosecute 12 year old kids for lying when the clicked the "I am at least 13 years old" checkbox when registering an account. The only alternative is to do what we do with R-rated movies, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, risky physical activities (i.e. bu…
There is already plenty of entities that not only have reliable way of proving it's you that have access to account, but also enough info to return user's age without disclosing anything else, like banks or govt sites, they could (or better, be forced to) provide interface to that data.
Basically "pick your identity provider" -> "auth on their site" -> "step showing that only age will be shared" -> response with user's age and the query's unique ID that's not related to the user account id
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#320Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’ll bite. What Linux distro currently has the nicest desktop experience? I work on a MacBook but my desktop is a windows PC that I use for gaming and personal projects. I hear Proton has made the former pretty good now, and the latter is mostly in WSL for me anyway. Maybe a good time to try. What do you suggest? I’ll try it in a VM or live usb.
That's literally like asking "What car has the best driving experience?". There is no one answer. If you want something that "just works," Linux Mint[1] is a great starting point. That gets you into Linux without any headache. Then, later when bored, you can branch out into the thousands[2] of Linux distributions that fill every possible niche [1] https://linuxmint.com/ [2] https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=…
Fedora is so significantly better.
I wouldn't confuse popularity for good. Ubuntu gave away free CDs in the 2000s and are living off old marketing.
Debian family is so bad. You will be in the terminal constantly just trying to get stuff to work. Stick to a well maintained, up to date, consumer distro, Fedora.
(reminder that Fedora is Not Arch)