The Encryption Fiasco

We all have some form of encryption on our devices. We use passwords both as texts and pictures, we can receive alerts through messages and emails while we have secure company accounts that have security embedded in them. But the government wishes to know about certain things when they are investigating a case, which can lead to encryption look bad for both consumers and the law enforcement agencies.

The recent issue in relation to why encryption matters has been outlined during the court order given to Apple. It wants to allow FBI to ask Apple to decrypt the iPhone 5C San Bernardino attackers used. The resulting data is vital towards national security. But there is an issue. Apple has refused to do this. Not because it doesn’t want to, but because it simply can’t.

Technology companies make encryption in order for it not to get breached, not even by themselves, or any in their departments. Apple is now being supported by both Microsoft and Google, who also think the government should not be provided with any Back Doors, which can help hackers understand their systems. If there is a back door to security, it means there is a way to hack into systems and hack data which has been stored hidden from the public and private domain for years now.

All this makes the encryption fiasco look good and bad at the same time. When the government will not get Back Door access to files it wishes to retrieve, it may signal them to use other means. These other means may relate to using bots and hacking languages or viruses, which can help break such encryptions.

To a consumer, it might be satisfying that there is no way to compromise privacy, but it makes the law enforcement agencies look bad. What is surprising is how would the technology companies react when they get hacked or attacked by Chinese or Russians, who pose a greater threat to the national security interests of United States than any other cyber attacking nation. As per Apple, for now there is no technology that FBI can use to break into their systems or given secure access to, while for the law enforcement agencies especially FBI and NSA, it is getting even more complex to keep track and spy on American citizens who may, in turn, become the next wave of attackers like those of San Bernardino.