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If David Cameron bans secure encryption he can't intercept

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Re: If David Cameron bans secure encryption he can't intercept

#3

9:15 : Think this is all a bit bizarre so phone colleague on mobile, she answers to say that she’s having lots of problems too. Mobiles are encrypted too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A5/1

Yes but A5/1 is utterly brocken. Besides thanks to numerous attacks possible through SS7 you probably do not even need to break the encryption.

Re: If David Cameron bans secure encryption he can't intercept

#4
I'm a very happy customer of mythic-beasts. They do insist on sftp/ssh/tls &c for all connections which is probably wise.

I hope this gets the idea across to influential civilians (i.e. non-techs). Humour can work quite well in the UK. The HGTTG references may be lost on the younger ones though.

Re: If David Cameron bans secure encryption he can't intercept

#5

9:15 : Think this is all a bit bizarre so phone colleague on mobile, she answers to say that she’s having lots of problems too. Mobiles are encrypted too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A5/1

If use of encryption were banned, I wouldn't even be able to unlock my Android.

Re: If David Cameron bans secure encryption he can't intercept

#6
It's pretty clear that the UK government doesn't have the power to ban encryption. This is just a distraction so that we are happy to accept whatever "less bad" proposals they come up with to increase their surveillance powers. I can't help but feel that peoples dislike of Cameron is a pointless distraction too. This is not Cameron. This is government. We will still be having this same discussion in 50 years, unless some miracle technical advancement makes it moot.

Re: If David Cameron bans secure encryption he can't intercept

#7
Honestly, it sounds kind of relaxing. Good excuse to get some sunshine.

On a more serious note, I can't help but think David Cameron is employing the technique of attempting something extreme so that he can do something less extreme (but still really bad) later with less oversight. Of course you can't ban strong encryption. His advisers know that, he knows that, _everyone_ knows that.

It will be very interesting to see what actually gets put (or attempted to be put) into law. Right now it's just a whole lot of unrealistic noise.

Re: If David Cameron bans secure encryption he can't intercept

#8
post #3

9:15 : Think this is all a bit bizarre so phone colleague on mobile, she answers to say that she’s having lots of problems too. Mobiles are encrypted too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A5/1

Yes but A5/1 is utterly brocken. Besides thanks to numerous attacks possible through SS7 you probably do not even need to break the encryption.

No attack is necessary, operators has taps for listening in. See "lawful interception".

Re: If David Cameron bans secure encryption he can't intercept

#9

It's pretty clear that the UK government doesn't have the power to ban encryption. This is just a distraction so that we are happy to accept whatever "less bad" proposals they come up with to increase their surveillance powers. I can't help but feel that peoples dislike of Cameron is a pointless distraction too. This is not Cameron. This is government. We will still be having this same discussion in 50 years, unless…

It's not really the elected government, it's the security services asking for an expanded remit and being granted one by uncritical politicians and an apathetic media.
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