The Guardian confirms what we have known (but happily ignored) all the way: If you have a commercial app, it will be under surbeillance, except if their creators have made sure they do not have the technical ability (and then, well, it’s up to Apple, Google or whoever else to grant the agents access): “…After reviewing Whisper’s back-end tools and speaking extensively with the company’s executives, the Guardian has also established that: User data, including Whisper postings that users believe they have deleted, is collated in a searchable database.… Read more Revealed: how Whisper app tracks ‘anonymous’ users | Technology | The Guardian →
Net-Security.org have an interesting article. Typically, with announcements on topics that touch national security, the CEOs in the US are very selective in their wording. So, it makes sense to indeed look at the wording to find out, what they omit or which interpretation they leave open – and most probably that analysis points more to the truth. You might remember Jonathan Zdziarski has an analysis published, that claims Apple has built, extended and maintained backdoors to their iOS operating system. With iOS 8, Apple won’t be able to unlock… Read more Cook says, Apple won’t be able to unlock phones for the police anymore →
The roadmap looks too good to be true, but the developers seem to be serious. They have taken the approach through the first months, delivered on their promises and now are trying out how far they can venture. Mailpile Beta is now open for the general public. These are the goals, they have set for themselves: Basics: It should be safe, easy and convenient to read, write, search and organize your e-mail. People should be able to communicate privately. For e-mail that means: Delivery: Messages are delivered intact and in… Read more Mailpile: A bold approach for email privacy →
Privacy app Disconnect returns to Play Store after ban by Google. It is a funny fact, that privacy and security on mobiles leave such a lot to be desired. There isn’t any way to block intrusive ads, enable an IP firewall or control usage of personal data (and potentially stop it) other than agreeing on installation – and whatever happens after is hidden from the user. Maybe there are some things, that a user simplky doesn’t want to allow all of the times, but in general? For example the location… Read more Privacy app ‘Disconnect’ returns to Play and App Stores →
People actually like mobile payments—at least for lattes and taxis. Mobile wallets haven’t caught on in part because they haven’t given customers a reason to use them. “Everything that has… Read more How Apple’s iPhone 6 Can Finally Make Mobile Payments Happen →
As the last iPhone release wanes on the horizon, Apple adds American Express, Visa, MasterCard as mobile payment partners. Oh, and did you read that NFC will be there as… Read more Late to the NFC-Party: Apple adds American Express, Visa, MasterCard as mobile payment partners →
Can I Trust My Networking Gear?. In one of the Harry Potter books there was one great quote by Mr. Weasley, who I believe headed up the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects, who surely had information technology in mind when he said: “Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can’t see where it keeps its brain.” I’ll paraphrase Mr. Weasley by saying “Never trust anything that runs software.” Good reading to start into the daily business.
Matthew Green has a a Few Thoughts on Cryptographic Engineering: What’s the matter with PGP?. Most of the thoughts are pretty good. Some are a bit questionable, especially the necessary trust in the Google, Yahoo and Whatsapp/Facebook apps. Many of the voiced concerns are very valid, though and the blog posting worth a read.
