This sheriff has a certain mind set the prevents him from leaning when things don't go his way. His mind and thought processes are getting in the way of knowing, much less understanding, the law.
With regard to ignoring a judge's order he might find himself in jail. Judges can do that. Putting him in jail with some folks the sheriff put there might be an interesting experience for him.
Is it possible for Apple to perfectly secure their phones?
It seems the conventional wisdom has been that no one, not even Apple, could break into one of their phone's encrypted data. I guess that's not the case. It may be Apple can't guarantee such a level of security and this knowledge will one of the most important results of this episode. Perhaps the best way to prevent anyone getting at your data is to physically destroy the phone with an industrial strength shredder and/or a high temperature blow torch focused on its parts.
I admitted I was somewhat ignorant of what Apple could do and what folks who bought iPhones thought Apple or anyone else could not do, that is get at the decrypted data in the phone. According to Mike Masnick's post above even new phones can be hacked without destroying the data or the encryption key. Updating the phone's OS does not harm the data or or the encryption key if done properly. Apple can do this and apparently has done this at least 70 times for law enforcement.
My interest is to stimulate discussion. I haven't heard whether Apple ever claimed the encrypted data and its decryption key could be obtained. It looks like it can regardless of what iPhone owners thought.
I'm not an iPhone user and pretty ignorant about what's going on here with regard to Apple's ability to undo the encryption on it's phones, old or new, but my guess is that a vary high percentage (>>99% ?) of iPhone purchasers believed that no one, not even Apple, could gain access to the encrypted data on an iPhone that was properly secured. I'm not sure Apple ever said that but it seems to be the conventional wisdom. It's also possible that a lot of folks didn't care, but for knowledgeable people who use their iPhones for things that ordinary, law abiding folks do, such as banking, retail purchases at brick and mortar stores, etc., such security was very, very important. Apple needs to match perception or admit it can't be done.
TV sets have basically become video monitors with multiple inputs - cable/satellite boxes, Blu-ray players, Chromecasts, Rokus, gaming consoles, computers, etc. The only real requirement is they contain an over the air broadcast tuner. I don't even know why they need to have "smartness" built in and from my experience the smart TV UI is horrible. If the built in cable box were to die or need hardware upgrade to get the latest video experience, you'd probably have to throw the whole thing away or get a new attachment anyway. Keep the TV as a video monitor and let folks buy the attachments they want.
"covering a license plate with anything is illegal."
Is it illegal to drive in a snow storm?
In Colorado, it's illegal to drive in a snowstorm if you don't have the right kind of tires or traction gear (chains). If drivers block traffic or skid off the road and don't have the proper traction the fine is something like $600 or more. Commercial vehicles must carry chains, whether it's snowing or not, from something like Oct. 1 to May 31. The fine there is $1,000. Accidents have decreased greatly since this law was enforced.
"in plate overlays that do not make human-unreadable but machine unreadable.
IIRC, in my state of Colorado, covering a license plate with anything is illegal. One other use of license plate readers here is the toll roads use them to bill drivers.
Didn't I read somewhere that Google's connected thermostat update drained the battery and prevented access. The result was that there was the possibility of a cold house and maybe frozen water pipes. Bad for folks who went to a warm place to get away from those Northern Minnesota temperatures and couldn't use their cell phones to warm up their houses.
I read that the recent Paris terrorists used unencrypted phone communictions which were obtained by the authorities but it was never recognized for what it was. Just because it's readily available doesn't mean it'll be read and even then any action taken. One of the problems with all the enormous amount of information collected there's just too much to analyze. When one collects billions and billions of phone calls, emails, SMSs, MMSs, etc., finding the 10 or 100 that might be significant is almost impossible. There's information overload. Then again, the San Bernardino terrorists apparently never communicated about what they were intending using technology. My guess is that in the future terrorists will not use discoverable communication methods.
I'm not sure Bernie Madoff would be considered a terrorist but it is estimated his "clients" lost ~$18 billion over many years starting in 1970. His activities were in the open and the financial regulators didn't find out until ~2008. If someone can hide their nefarious activities in one of the most highly regulated industries in the world, why can't violent terrorists do the same despite the intense surveillance by all these three letter agencies?
Looking at everything isn't going to work. Perhaps an implication of the quotation above from the NY state constitution and the US Constitution about probable cause and the sanctity of personal documents suggests a very narrow, focused search for the bad guys. It might even require spies infiltrating organizations before getting proper search warrants. It might even cost less than what's being done now.
This is too monumentally stupid to have any hope. People should really be upset at the waste of time and effort on the part of the senator and his aides. They should spend their resources on issues that matter.
Remember: we get the kind and quality of government we elect.
I wonder if Google, Netflix and others could show up T-Mobile by noticing that they are streaming to T-Mobile and display a popup noting something like:
"You are using T-Mobile to view our video stream and the quality of the stream is degraded to the point that your experience will be unacceptable. Since we wish you to have a great experience viewing our video we will stop the stream. Contact T-Mobile to fix the situation."
On the other hand, these streaming companies make money when one views their product they may not care about the quality of your experience. That is, unless, of course, you stop watching or cancel a paid subscription.
As Tim suggests, nothing in the bill would prevent the purchaser from providing encryption software. I'm not sure if the encryption software could be provided by the phone's manufacturer or an independent company set up by the manufacturer. Apple could set up Baldwin,Inc. or Granny Smith, Inc. Google - or is it Alphabet - could have a company called Green Robot, Inc. The 5th avenue Apple store might end up in New Jersey as well. Think of the sales tax losses. And, what about mail order purchases?
Folks interested in the German publishers' valuable information can pay the publishers directly for it. Cut out Google out of the middle. Then they will find out how valuable it is to folks. If it's really worth much to the audience the publishers will make a pile of money.
Wasn't there a similar problem where purchase of Chinese made routers was highly discouraged because of potential for Chinese capture of traffic? Then again, the NSA could just as easily intercept Chinese made routers and Internet information available to two governments.
IIRC, wasn't it recommended that purchasers of Cisco routers send a vehicle to the Cisco manufacturing facility for transport? Maybe they're made outside the US.
Roberts said something like Internet data is like gasoline
Not long ago gasoline where I live was ~$3.50 per gallon. I filled up the other day and it was $1.65. I haven't noticed my Internet subscription monthly cost drop by more than half.
By using official DOD seals in advertising, especially for fundraising, could be confusing for prospective readers and donors. Folks would certainly believe an advertisement is an official DOD solicitation. There is allegedly one support- the-disabled-former-warriers group that uses 95% of its donations for fund raising meaning only 5% goes to those in need. If they're using official DOD seals in solicitation literature (and they may not) it would seem to me to be more than misleading and allows some folks to become wealthy.
Imagine if some fly-by-night company started using the Apple logo in its ads an on its products what would happen.
The problem is it would cost $117,000 to provide the initial byte to his house. If one could get a letter out of the service provider, better include the cost of installation without any weasel words.
On the post: Publicity Seeking Florida Sheriff Promises To Put Tim Cook In Jail For Refusing To Decrypt iPhones
1- Some people can't learn and 2- disobey a judge
With regard to ignoring a judge's order he might find himself in jail. Judges can do that. Putting him in jail with some folks the sheriff put there might be an interesting experience for him.
On the post: FBI Insists It's Not Trying To Set A Precedent, But Law Enforcement Is Drooling Over Exactly That Possibility
Is it possible for Apple to perfectly secure their phones?
On the post: Yes, The Backdoor That The FBI Is Requesting Can Work On Modern iPhones Too
Re: Re: All those iPhone users have been mislead
My interest is to stimulate discussion. I haven't heard whether Apple ever claimed the encrypted data and its decryption key could be obtained. It looks like it can regardless of what iPhone owners thought.
On the post: Yes, The Backdoor That The FBI Is Requesting Can Work On Modern iPhones Too
All those iPhone users have been mislead
On the post: White House Is Either Lying About Apple Order Or Doesn't Understand What A Backdoor Is
Re: Can the engineers refuse?
Anyone can refuse to obey a court order but there may be penalties for doing so, including jail time until the order is obeyed.
On the post: The Cable Industry Is Absolutely Terrified Of Set Top Box Competition
Re: Re: I can see the future.
And everyone would have to pay the fee regardless of whether or not they rent their box
Exactly. Might not be a separate fee but a greater the usual increase in subscription fees to cover the lost revenue.
On the post: The Cable Industry Is Absolutely Terrified Of Set Top Box Competition
Re:
On the post: Cops Getting Free License Plate Readers In Exchange For 25% Of The 'Take' And All The Driver Data Vigilant Can Slurp
Re: Re: Re: Re: I see a future business
Is it illegal to drive in a snow storm?
In Colorado, it's illegal to drive in a snowstorm if you don't have the right kind of tires or traction gear (chains). If drivers block traffic or skid off the road and don't have the proper traction the fine is something like $600 or more. Commercial vehicles must carry chains, whether it's snowing or not, from something like Oct. 1 to May 31. The fine there is $1,000. Accidents have decreased greatly since this law was enforced.
On the post: Cops Getting Free License Plate Readers In Exchange For 25% Of The 'Take' And All The Driver Data Vigilant Can Slurp
Re: Re: I see a future business
IIRC, in my state of Colorado, covering a license plate with anything is illegal. One other use of license plate readers here is the toll roads use them to bill drivers.
On the post: Ding-Dong -- Your Easily Hacked 'Smart' Doorbell Just Gave Up Your WiFi Credentials
The Internet of things including thermostats
On the post: NY State Legislator Proposes Ban On Sale Of Encrypted Smartphones
Others have noted...
I'm not sure Bernie Madoff would be considered a terrorist but it is estimated his "clients" lost ~$18 billion over many years starting in 1970. His activities were in the open and the financial regulators didn't find out until ~2008. If someone can hide their nefarious activities in one of the most highly regulated industries in the world, why can't violent terrorists do the same despite the intense surveillance by all these three letter agencies?
Looking at everything isn't going to work. Perhaps an implication of the quotation above from the NY state constitution and the US Constitution about probable cause and the sanctity of personal documents suggests a very narrow, focused search for the bad guys. It might even require spies infiltrating organizations before getting proper search warrants. It might even cost less than what's being done now.
On the post: NY State Legislator Proposes Ban On Sale Of Encrypted Smartphones
Re:
Remember: we get the kind and quality of government we elect.
On the post: Clarifying The Bullshit From John Legere: What T-Mobile Is Really Doing And Why It Violates Net Neutrality
What streaming providers could do
"You are using T-Mobile to view our video stream and the quality of the stream is degraded to the point that your experience will be unacceptable. Since we wish you to have a great experience viewing our video we will stop the stream. Contact T-Mobile to fix the situation."
On the other hand, these streaming companies make money when one views their product they may not care about the quality of your experience. That is, unless, of course, you stop watching or cancel a paid subscription.
On the post: NY State Legislator Proposes Ban On Sale Of Encrypted Smartphones
Provice the user with encryption software
On the post: German Publishers Still Upset That Google Sends Them Traffic Without Paying Them Too; File Lawsuit
German publishers can set up a pay wall
On the post: US Gov't Agencies Freak Out Over Juniper Backdoor; Perhaps They'll Now Realize Why Backdoors Are A Mistake
Re: Cisco fiasco...
IIRC, wasn't it recommended that purchasers of Cisco routers send a vehicle to the Cisco manufacturing facility for transport? Maybe they're made outside the US.
On the post: US Gov't Agencies Freak Out Over Juniper Backdoor; Perhaps They'll Now Realize Why Backdoors Are A Mistake
Re: No, they won't
On the post: Comcast CEO: It's Not A Broadband Cap, It's A 'Balanced Relationship'
Roberts said something like Internet data is like gasoline
I don't think Roberts can reason.
On the post: DOD Was Apparently Sending Trademark Notices To Veterans Groups Over Military Seals
Misuse of the seals may generate confusion
Imagine if some fly-by-night company started using the Apple logo in its ads an on its products what would happen.
On the post: Cable Company Totally Unsure What Neighborhoods It Serves, Wants $117,000 For Broadband Service
It appears as though they WOULD provide service
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