Tech Corner: Apple Versing the FBI and Ransomware
Mandy Mac
Apple has been encircling the news for the past month, between the FBI case they are currently fighting in and the most recent ransomware attack on their computers. With the Apple event coming up next week, March 21st, we want to brush you up on the situations that have been occurring and what it will mean to the mass majority of iPhone and Mac users.
First up is the Apple VS the FBI case that has been going on for over a month now. On February 16th, a federal judge ruled that Apple must assist the FBI with breaking into the iPhone of the suspect shooter, Syed Rizwan Farook, of last year’s tragic shooting in San Bernardino, California. The FBI would like Apple to create a “backdoor” to their current iOS software that includes encryption created by Apple to protect everyone’s personal data. As simple as this sounds, people do not fully see the risk that can come along with such a software being developed.
Automatically, people have jumped to a conclusion on Apple’s concern with making such a software, stating that they should just create the software to break into this one iPhone user’s phone. Here is why it can potentially be dangerous: This controversial ruling does not only affect the technology industry but will also put everyone’s security and privacy at risk. While the request by the FBI seems simple in words, creating such an alternate operating system that can help work around the encryption through a backdoor of the current software can actually lead to more problems rather than being helpful.
In the statement, the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook states that: “The U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create. They have asked us to build a backdoor to the iPhone Specifically, the FBI wants us to make a new version of the iPhone operating system, circumventing several important security features, and install it on an iPhone recovered during the investigation. In the wrong hands, this software — which does not exist today — would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession.”
The government has argued that the access will only be limited to this case, but with something out there like that, there is no way to guarantee that control on the FBI or even hackers. This request by the FBI would create such a product that would be “capable of opening hundreds of million of locks – from restaurants and banks, to stores and homes” and undermining decades of built security that had been protecting Apple’s consumers, which make up about tens of millions of American citizens. This will grant a welcoming mat to sophisticated hackers and cybercriminals.
To downgrade the software will put more availability to hackers. There has recently been the first ever fully functional ransomware hack targeting Mac computers. Due to the current software, it was found and stopped immediately.
This malware encrypts your data on YOUR computer so you cannot access it. Then hackers can demand that you pay them in a digital currency that is hard to trace, in order for you to get your files back. This particular ransomware is called “KE Ranger”. The KE Ranger app was fully functional and was even signed with a valid Mac app development certificate, which is how it got around Mac’s Gatekeepers protection.
The virus was reported by the researchers at Palo Alto Networks. The noted that Apple revoked the abused certificate that was compromised for the attack. Then they updated their built-in anti-malware system called “XProtect” with a new signature. They worked fast to ensure their consumers protection on their computers.
Palo Alto Network believes that this malware is still under development and that attackers may be trying to create a backdoor functionally to even encrypt user’s Time Machine backups as well. Which leads to another reasoning why creating a backdoor in Apple’s software may cause even more problems than the FBI and users is disagreement with Apple may not see forthcoming.
Are you team apple or team government? What are your concerns and opinions on this case, as well as the possible future that may include hackable and virus prone Mac Computers? Join our conversation on Facebook and Twitter! Let’s discuss!
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