News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their contact-tracing system. Parent comment

Re:Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their c... by nindalf on Tuesday May 05, 2020 @02:02AM (#23076975)
I read Snowden's biography - Permanent Record. Your claims are untrue. The sibling comment has it right - the US govt could steal data from the tech giants but they gradually got better at plugging such leaks. For example, in response to the Snowden revelations, all data in transit between datacenters is now encrypted. On the other hand, the govt would also request the data of a few people, which was generally granted.

It's not correct that the US govt has root access to all systems and data.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their c... by richthegeek on Tuesday May 05, 2020 @02:10AM (#23077021)
That seems extraordinarily naive. The NSA would not give up access like that unless forced at gunpoint, and the US gov has clearly demonstrated it doesn't care (and actually quite likes) this sort of gross privacy invasion.

The only (in)tangible difference between 2005 and today is the presumed existence of national security letters and other warrants that compel these companies to provide access.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their c... by coliveira on Tuesday May 05, 2020 @12:15PM (#23081637)
You must be ignorant of how these agencies work. All they want is plausible deniability. The spy agencies have all technology needed to access any phone. For example, it is widely known that Israel's agencies have the ability to enter any phone, iOS or Android, and get the information they want. They are now OPENLY using this technology to track corona virus cases:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/18/tech/israel-coronavirus-techn...

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-tech-company-says-it-c...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their c... by thelittleone on Tuesday May 05, 2020 @03:25AM (#23077402)
Do you recall the news that NSA (US Intel Agency) paid RSA (US security vendor) $10m go backdoor encryptions libraries?

If this was exposed once it’s happening elsewhere.

There was also the case of the NIST elliptic curve encryption best practices being subverted for NSA backdoors standard.

They’ve got a job to do. They’re doing it. But worth noting that a vendor could claim be pro privacy while also cooperating with their government.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Apple, Google ban location tracking in apps using their c... by UncleMeat on Tuesday May 05, 2020 @10:42AM (#23080512)
And we also have examples of companies refusing to comply. And we all use djb’s curves rather than the nist curves now.
[ Parent | on HN ]