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Want to Keep Messages From the Feds? Use iMessage

Posted by timothy on from the disinformation-brought-to-you-by-the-afl-cia dept.

According to an report at CNET, "Encryption used in Apple's iMessage chat service has stymied attempts by federal drug enforcement agents to eavesdrop on suspects' conversations, an internal government document reveals. An internal Drug Enforcement Administration document seen by CNET discusses a February 2013 criminal investigation and warns that because of the use of encryption, 'it is impossible to intercept iMessages between two Apple devices' even with a court order approved by a federal judge." The article goes on to talk about ways in which the U.S. government is pressuring companies to leave peepholes for law enforcement in just such apps, and provides some insight into why the proprietary iMessage is (but might not always be) a problem for eavesdroppers, even ones with badges. Adds reader adeelarshad82, "It turns out that encryption is only half of the problem while the real issue lies in the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act which was passed in 1994.

4 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    If the endpoints can decrypt the stream or messages; and if Apple can reach into the devices and retrieve those keys, game over.

  2. Seriously now by fyngyrz · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you believe, even for a second, that the feds can't read iMessages, you are just the deathstick dealer they are looking for.

    Y'all know about this, right?

    Here a money quote from an article in Wired:

    the NSA made an enormous breakthrough several years ago in its ability to cryptanalyze, or break, unfathomably complex encryption systems employed by not only governments around the world but also many average computer users in the US

    Yeah... that really fits in perfectly with "can't read iMessages", lol.

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    1. Re:Seriously now by camperdave · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's Sheriff Buford T. Justice, not Justice T. Sheriff.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  3. not just iPhone... by lamber45 · · Score: 3, Informative

    On the Android platform, there are third-party, open-source apps available for encrypted voice and SMS. Those are just the ones I'm familiar with; there may be others.