Peerlyst Blogger Explores a Recently Exposed Apple iMessage Vulnerability—and Its Implications for the Privacy-vs-Security Battle
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) March 31, 2016 -- The recent battle royal between Apple and the FBI about breaking into the iPhone used by a perpetrator of the San Bernardino terror attacks got everybody talking about information-security backdoors. But according to cybersecurity pro Claus Cramon Houmann, a newly unearthed Apple iMessage vulnerability shows that privacy threats go way beyond backdoors. (See this March 21 account in The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/johns-hopkins-researchers-discovered-encryption-flaw-in-apples-imessage/2016/03/20/a323f9a0-eca7-11e5-a6f3-21ccdbc5f74e_story.html.)
“Basically this is yet another proof that law enforcement doesn't need a backdoor to get access to the data that they want access to,” says the Peerlyst community manager. Indeed, the fact that the FBI broke into the San Bernardino terrorist’s iPhone without a backdoor reinforces Houmann’s point. (See BBC News's March 29 report: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35914195)
His take on the iMessage vulnerability is that it’s only a risk for those engaging in criminal activities or exchanging highly confidential information via iMessage. But, he adds, it does have implications for the ongoing privacy-vs-security controversy, which rages on even after the San Bernardino terrorist’s phone has been opened up by a third party. (See BBC News's March 29 report: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35914195)
As the go-to platform for information security professionals, a big part of Peerlyst’s mission is providing inside perspective on cybersecurity news. For instance, Houmann’s recent blog shares his own analysis, as well as perspective from respected experts like Matthew D. Green, Christopher Soghoian, and Matt Blaze. To read the full text of Houmann's article, go here: https://www.peerlyst.com/posts/what-the-imessage-vulnerability-means-for-the-apple-vs-fbi-case-bigger-picture-claus-cramon.
About Peerlyst
Peerlyst is the place where information security pros go to share knowledge and build their professional reputations. With an audience of more than half a million and more than 10,000 posts by security experts, Peerlyst is the preeminent platform for spreading InfoSec news, asking a question, finding an expert, or offering product insight. For more information, email info(at)peerlyst(dot)com or visit peerlyst.com.
Limor Elbaz, Peerlyst, Inc., http://www.peerlyst.com, +1 7185015181, [email protected]
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