The battle for the San Bernardino iPhone is raging in the
news and it’s pointing a large light on just how important mobile data has
become. This case will cause precedence
on how a government entity will be allowed to request, or have direct access
to, an individual’s private data. Apple is taking the stance that their user’s
privacy is under attack if they give up the ability for others to access it freely.
On the flip side the government is under the viewpoint that our national
security is at risk if they can’t view it. No matter where you stand on this
issue personally, it’s interesting to see that the largest case in country is
being focused on mobile data and its corresponding security. This shows just
how important the issues of mobile security have become and this case, no
matter where you stand on it, proves that our mobile phones need to be secured
and we need to understand the long term effects of what this means for mobile
vendors, app developers and mobile device users.
While this case will continually unfold throughout the next
couple weeks, it has already shown us that the ability for security is needed
and that the final decision could cause have major changes as to how mobile
vendors develop their product from a security standpoint. If the ability to
have a third party access data, or bypass the encryption, of a mobile device
could start a trend of mobile app developers to enable strong encryption or
security within their applications. This ability to access a mobile device
could cause a stir among mobile app developers to start performing better
security and encryption within their app and not rely on the security of the
mobile phone as an umbrella. Certain apps pride themselves on security and
encryption, E.G Signal, but I wonder if this will cause other apps to follow in
their footsteps? Will this cause a windfall of encryption within mobile apps in
attempts to have better privacy? And will the same question of encryption that
Apples experiencing now occur on apps that have their data encrypted? It would be an interesting trend to watch for
after a decision is made.
Also, dependent on the ruling of the iPhone case there might
a shift of users who want more privacy move towards another mobile vendor.
Apple seems to have a very strong following regardless and we saw many security
and privacy upgrades made to iOS6, but will this decision end up making a few
of these mute and affect Apples bottom line? Will there be users who felt safer
on an iPhone before this case leave for another vendor in search of looking for
more privacy? Will we see similar requests of the government sent down to
Google, Blackberry, Windows, etc to have the same or similar capabilities? Yet
again, this is another interesting trend to look for when the dust settles.
Lastly, if this is the norm going forward will all new
vendors that come into the mobile space have to adhere to allowing access, or
bypass ability, to their mobile devices and applications? Will this become a
standard applied to mobile vendors and application developers as part of their
build process? There are many things to consider after the final decision is
made on whether or not Apple needs to develop a way to have a third party
bypass their encryption. Yes, this helps with national security and yes this
could bypass privacy, but the follow ups going forward for mobile vendors
regarding security could be long lasting and changing.
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