Apple Taking a Stance/FDE

What is FDE?

Full-Disk Encryption is an encryption method that interacts with the stored data at a hardware level. Any stored data on an FDE hard drive will be encrypted as is. Any information that is needed from the disk is decrypted, used, and stored once again as encrypted when it’s finished. This means without the given key, the information is inaccessible, protecting the user without much effort on their part. However, FDE only really protects your information while the device is accessed physically and not in an unencrypted state. The windows standard FDE system is “bitlocker”, macOS “FileVault”, and all iPhones running IOS 8 or later are employed with FDE.

Apple and the FBI

At the beginning of 2020, there was a fatal shooting at a naval air base in Pensacola, Florida. The FBI requested that apple allow access into the culprit’s phone. Apple refused any backdoor into their devices, however, they were compliant with all other requests, such as iCloud backups. The requests for decryption were continuously refused but the FBI eventually found their own way in. The relationship between Apple and the FBI is peculiar since within it lies the balance of the users right to encryption and the potential to solve cases. Forfeiting certain privacy’s can lead to a number of benefits for the general population, however, it is a particularly slippery slope. Giving full access into devices, to any party, sends a message to consumers that their data is not necessarily under lock. Apple states, “We have always maintained there is no such thing as a backdoor just for the good guys”, highlighting their philosophy behind the matter. A backdoor in the hands of any authoritative power has the potential for threat to those under said power.

Setting a precedent

The scenario from 2020 was not the first time a problem such as this arose. A similar situation occurred in 2016, again between apple and the FBI, with an identical outcome. Apple has stood by the use of encryption since the problem presented itself, saying, “From the beginning, we objected to the FBI’s demand that Apple build a backdoor into the iPhone because we believed it was wrong and would set a dangerous precedent”. I believe Apple made a very smart, yet bold, decision here. Standing by the user’s privacy from the beginning shows that they believe in their claims, and rightfully so. Setting a precedent like this, especially from a tech giant like Apple, will give the cause more of a standing in future situations. It is important that any other companies that are put in this situation make a similar decision as to uphold the rights of the user.

Importance of FDE

Conceptually, Full Disk Encryption provides numerous benefits to any party involved. For the consumer, there is little to no work on their part for their own encryption as well as a higher lever of security compared to other encryption methods that don’t directly encrypt stored data. For companies employing FDE methods, they don’t have to worry about their end users having to set anything up for their own safety, giving the company some peace of mind. The negatives of a system like FDE are the implications it leaves when encrypted data is needed by a group like law enforcement. This lack of extra evidence is worth it in the grand scheme of things in order to prevent any further infringement of privacy. The importance of prioritizing user encryption and privacy cannot be understated. With a unified stance on the subject, any threats to the safety of encryption should be shut down. FDE holds an important role in the industry and should continue to be used throughout. Apple has made a respectable stance on multiple occasions and should be used as a guide on the matter.

Paden Johnson

Citations:

Lauren Feiner (2020, January 14). Apple refuses government’s request to unlock Pensacola shooting suspect’s iPhones. CNBC. Retrieved April 5, 2022, from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/14/apple-refuses-barr-request-to-unlock-pensacola-shooters-iphones.html

Kharpal, A. (2016, March 29). Apple vs FBI: All you need to know. CNBC. Retrieved April 5, 2022, from https://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/29/apple-vs-fbi-all-you-need-to-know.html

Dickson, B, (2018, March 16). What is full-disk encryption (FDE)? TechTalks. Retrieved April 5, 2022, from https://bdtechtalks.com/2017/02/03/what-is-full-disk-encryption-fde/#:~:text=iPhones%20running%20iOS%20version%208,media%20such%20as%20thumb%20drives.