It’s a new name for an old argument: that public agencies fighting crime and terrorism must have access to our private communications—for our own good. https://media.wired.com/photos/5a398b56ea8d87431e1a88d0/master/pass/0118-WI-APJARG-01_web.jpg
Tag: Encryption
Skype finally getting end-to-end encryption
Enlarge (credit: Skype) Since its inception, Skype has been notable for its secretive, proprietary algorithm. It’s also long had a complicated relationship with encryption: encryption is used by the Skype protocol, but the service has never been clear exactly how that encryption was implemented or exactly which privacy and security features it offers. That changes […]
FBI chief says phone encryption is a ‘major public safety issue’
The FBI’s stance on phone encryption hasn’t changed even if the President fired former director James Comey. At a cybersecurity conference in New York, current chief Christopher Wray has reiterated that the agency failed to access the content inside 7,775 devices within the fiscal year that ended on September 30th, 2017 despite having the proper […]
FBI director slams strong encryption as ‘urgent public safety issue’
Published time: 10 Jan, 2018 02:13 In another blast at privacy, FBI director Christopher Wray has said that powerful encryption which blocks law enforcement agencies from accessing data on devices represents an “urgent public safety issue.” In a speech at a cyber security conference in New York on Tuesday, Wray said the FBI was unable […]
FBI director, again, laments strong encryption in remarks to Congress
Enlarge / FBI Director Christopher Wray is sworn in prior to testifying before the House Judiciary Committee December 7, 2017 in Washington, DC. (credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images) In recent testimony before Congress, the director of the FBI has again highlighted what the government sees as the problem of easy-to-use, on-by-default, strong encryption. In prepared remarks […]
Quantum encryption is now fast enough for voice calls
Quantum encryption is theoretically a dream for security, as you can’t even inspect the data without altering it. However, it’s currently several times slower than the conventional kind, which makes it impractical for voice calls or streaming video. Science may have come to the rescue, though: researchers have developed a quantum encryption key distribution system […]
As DOJ calls for “responsible encryption,” expert asks “responsible to whom?”
(video link) In recent months, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has emerged as the government’s top crusader against strong encryption. “We have an ongoing dialogue with a lot of tech companies in a variety of different areas,” he recently told Politico Pro. “There [are] some areas where they are cooperative with us. But on this […]
ProtonMail will use encryption to lock down your contacts list
About a year and a half ago, ProtonMail opened up its previously invite-only beta encrypted email service to the public, along with a couple of mobile apps. A couple of months ago, ProtonMail created a free tier for its VPN service, too. Now the company is offering ProtonMail Contacts, which it’s calling “the world’s first […]
DOJ: Strong encryption that we don’t have access to is “unreasonable”
Enlarge / US Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein delivers remarks at the 65th Annual Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall October 25, 2017 in Washington, DC. (credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Just two days after the FBI said it could not get into the Sutherland Springs shooter’s seized iPhone, […]
Bay Area: Join us 11/15 for a brief history of encryption and the law
Enlarge / Riana Pfefferkorn is an expert in crypto and the law. She’s an attorney and the Cryptography Fellow at the Stanford Center for Internet and Society. (credit: Riana Pfefferkorn) With the DOJ recently bringing back the “Going Dark” debate and now calling for “responsible encryption,” what does the Trump administration have to say about […]
