[Cryptography] new wiretap resistance in iOS 8?

[John Gilmore]

> > Quoting from the new iOS 8 privacy policy announced tonight Wed Sep 17.
> > > Apple has no way to decrypt iMessage and FaceTime data when itœôòùs in
> > > transit between devices. So unlike other companiesœôòù messaging>
> > > services, Apple doesnœôòùt scan your communications, and we wouldnœôòùt be
> > > able to comply with a wiretap order even if we wanted to.
> >   https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-built-in/

And why do we believe them?

  *  Because we can read the source code and the protocol descriptions
     ourselves, and determine just how secure they are?

  *  Because they're a big company and big companies never lie?

  *  Because they've implemented it in proprietary binary software,
     and proprietary crypto is always stronger than the company
     claims it to be?

  *  Because they can't covertly send your device updated software that
     would change all these promises, for a targeted individual, or on
     a mass basis?

  *  Because you will never agree to upgrade the software on your
     device, ever, no matter how often they send you updates?

  *  Because this first release of their encryption software has no
     security bugs, so you will never need to upgrade it to retain
     your privacy?

  *  Because if a future update INSERTS privacy or security bugs, we
     will surely be able to distinguish these updates from future
     updates that FIX privacy or security bugs?

  *  Because if they change their mind and decide to lessen our privacy
     for their convenience, or by secret government edict, they will
     be sure to let us know?

  *  Because they have worked hard for years to prevent you from
     upgrading the software that runs on their devices so that YOU can
     choose it and control it instead of them?

  *  Because the US export control bureacracy would never try to stop
     Apple from selling secure mass market proprietary encryption
     products across the border?

  *  Because the countries that wouldn't let Blackberry sell phones
     that communicate securely with your own corporate servers,
     will of course let Apple sell whatever high security non-tappable
     devices it wants to?

  *  Because we're apple fanboys and the company can do no wrong?

  *  Because they want to help the terrorists win?

  *  Because NSA made them mad once, therefore they are on the side
     of the public against NSA?

  *  Because it's always better to wiretap people after you convince
     them that they are perfectly secure, so they'll spill all their
     best secrets?

There must be some other reason, I'm just having trouble thinking of it.

	John