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TECHNOLOGY A23
Saturday 19 March 2016
An iPhone-hacking tool likely wouldn’t stay secret for long
BREE FOWLER of the software’s underlying In this Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 file photo, people wait in front of an Apple store in Munich, Germany
AP Technology Writer code could allow govern- before the worldwide launch of the iPhone 6s. Tech and legal experts say if Apple were to create
NEW YORK (AP) — Suppose ment agents, private com- the iPhone-hacking software demanded by the FBI, it would have a tough time staying secret, giv-
Apple loses its court fight panies and hackers across en the “potentially unlimited” number of people that would likely get a look at its inner workings.
with the FBI and has to pro- the world to dissect Apple’s
duce a software tool that methods and incorporate Associated Press
would help agents hack them into their own device-
into an iPhone — specifi- cracking software. That The concerns raised by ex- Apple’s long history of cor- U.S. or elsewhere — could
cally, a device used by one work might also point to perts mirror those in Apple’s porate secrecy suggests it always compel them to
of the San Bernardino mass previously unknown vulner- own court filings, where the could keep the tool secure recreate it.
shooters. Could that tool abilities in iPhone software company argues that the during development and ___
really remain secret and that hackers and spies tool would be “used re- testing, says John Dickson, TESTING THE TOOL
locked away from poten- could exploit. peatedly and poses grave principal at Denim Group, Apple argues that the tool,
tial misuse? Cases in which prosecu- security risks.”Outside ex- a San Antonio, Texas-based which is essentially a new
Not very likely, according tors have signaled interest perts note that nothing software security firm. But version of its iOS phone
to security and legal ex- in the Apple tool, or one would prevent other pros- after that, “the genie is out operating software, would
perts, who say a “poten- like it, continue to pile up. ecutors from asking Apple of the bottle,” he says. need rigorous testing. That
tially unlimited” number of In Manhattan, for instance, to rewrite the tool for the would include installing it
people could end up get- the district attorney’s office phones they want to un- Even if the software is de- on multiple test devices to
ting a close at the tool’s says it holds 205 encrypted lock, or hackers from re- stroyed after use in the San ensure it won’t alter data
inner workings. Apple’s iPhones that neither it nor verse engineering it for their Bernardino case, govern- on the San Bernardino
tool would have to run a Apple can currently unlock, own purposes. ment authorities — in the iPhone.q
gauntlet of tests and chal- up from 111 in November.
lenges before any informa- Such pent-up demand for
tion it helps produce can the tool spells danger, says
be used in court, exposing Andrea Matwyshyn, a pro-
the company’s work to ad- fessor of law and computer
ditional scrutiny by foren- science at Northeastern
sics experts and defense University, since its wide-
lawyers — and increasing spread dissemination pres-
the likelihood of leaks with ents a clear threat to the
every step. security of innocent iPhone
True, the Justice Depart- users.
ment says it only wants a “That’s when people get
tool that would only work uncomfortable with a po-
on the San Bernardino tentially unlimited number
phone and that would of people being able to
be useless to anyone who use this in a potentially un-
steals it without Apple’s limited number of cases,”
closely guarded digital sig- Matwyshyn says.
nature. ___
But widespread disclosure THE CREATION PROCESS
Alexa voice software to offer Fitbit progress updates
ANICK JESDANUN In this Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, file photo, Brett Broviak, a manag- you need to reach your keeping things simpler with
AP Technology Writer er of respiratory and sleep services at IU Health North Hospital, goals. Alexa might also add Alexa because the service
NEW YORK (AP) — Alexa, shows off his Fitbit fitness tracker for the camera on the hospital’s some encouraging words, isn’t tied to your phone. It’s
what can you tell me about campus in Carmel, Ind. such as “I believe in you.” meant to give you a snap-
my health? In recent weeks, Alexa has shot as you’re walking by
Starting Thursday, Ama- Associated Press acquired such capabili- the Echo speaker on the
zon’s voice assistant will tell ties as paying Capital One way to the kitchen. For ad-
you how well you slept and weather, movie listings and Alexa will tell you when credit card bills, ordering vanced tasks, you still need
how much more exercise sports scores. Fitbit is add- you fell asleep and for how pizza from Domino’s and your phone app.
you need — at least if you ing several commands to long. Ask about your daily getting a ride through To enable the functional-
have a Fitbit fitness tracker Alexa’s vocabulary. walks, and Alexa will reply Uber. Amazon now has ity, you need to turn on the
and an Alexa-compatible Ask about your sleep, and with how many more miles more than 100 third-party Fitbit “skill” in the Alexa app
device, such as Amazon’s integrations, known as skills. on your phone.
Echo speaker and Fire TV “You never know what de- For now, Alexa won’t do
streaming devices. velopers are going to do,” much during your workouts,
Alexa — Amazon.com said Rob Pulciani, director such as yoga in front of a
Inc.’s answer to Apple’s of Amazon Alexa. “They TV or a jog on a treadmill at
Siri, Google Now and Mi- have a knack for creating home.
crosoft’s Cortana — is part experiences that we would “This is a starting point,” said
of the online retailer’s am- never have thought of.” Tim Roberts, Fitbit’s execu-
bitions to control your liv- Fitbit already works with tive vice president for inter-
ing room, as people start Cortana, but not Siri or active. “We as an industry
embracing a “smart,” au- Google Now. You can do are still in the early days of
tomated home. You can more with Cortana, such as experiencing and under-
already use voice com- using voice commands to standing voice interactions
mands to ask Alexa for log your food intake. Fitbit is with technology.”q
