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> Backdoored by whom is an important real-world distinction. Not really. Once something is backdoored by X, it can be accessed not only by X, but also by anyon
by cesarb 6y ago
> Backdoored by whom is an important real-world distinction.
Not really. Once something is backdoored by X, it can be accessed not only by X, but also by anyone who managed to hack into X. This is one of the main objections against adding backdoors (no matter how they are named, a backdoor doesn't stop being a backdoor just because you named it a "front door") to cryptographic protocols; even if you try to somehow make it so only "good guys" can use the backdoor, the "good guys" can be compromised (through technical or social means) by the "bad guys".
As an example, many telephony systems around the world have backdoors meant to be used only by local police. In a well-known case in Europe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_wiretapping_case_2004%E2%80%9305 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_wiretapping_case_2004%E2...), these backdoors were exploited by agents of a foreign country.
- garmaine 6y agoI would rather have a device with zero back doors, obviously. But given that my present choice can only be between devices that are backdoored by the intelligence services of democratic nations with strong rule of law, or authoritarian regimes, and there is no third option, the choice is clear.
- seniorivn 6y agoif you are a regular person of no interest for politicians, your been choice is a backdoor from the least influential agency so if you are Chinese you better stick with American security, if you are American you might consider chinese/Russian security etc
- klyrs 6y agoChina's draconian laws can't touch me unless I leave the soil of this authoritarian democracy, which I'm quite critical of and has a long history of persecution. To tell the truth, I prefer Chinese backdoors to domestic ones -- as China will be reluctant to share keys to those backdoors with the government that has physical access to me.
- garmaine 6y agoChina's security services have no qualms about extorting foreigners on foreign soil. You don't know how you're vulnerable.
- colejohnson66 6y agoIf China is able to snatch me up off US soil, that’d be quite an achievement.
- garmaine 6y agoI said extortion, not kidnapping. And it has happened.
- BelenusMordred 6y agoGiven the choice should a western civil rights activist or whistleblower prefer a device "backdoored by the intelligence services of democratic nations" or one backdoored by despots perpetually at odds with the west? Even a slight glance at modern history will quickly tell you what would be in the best interest of these heroes.