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> For example, if your computer can encrypt things without a backdoor then authorities cannot listen. But if it can't then by definition it is not a general pur

> For example, if your computer can encrypt things without a backdoor then authorities cannot listen. But if it can't then by definition it is not a general purpose computer. No. The user could still deliberately chooose to run a different back-doored encryption software on the same computer. The definition still holds.

zmmmmm 5y ago
They can only choose to do that if they can run that software. We are pretty close to the situation already where users no longer have choice over what software they can run. The iPhone went there years ago. The situation on Android is tenuous. OSX and Windows both now both start from a secure boot mechanism. At this point it is still possible for a user to work around these things but this is now "at the pleasure" of the OS maker and not something the user actually controls. Removal of a couple of checkboxes is how far we are from losing user-controlled right to install software on any mainstream consumer supported OS. So I am arguing that now that operating system manufacturers have forfeited their ability to say they cannot prevent the user from installing software, it is only a matter of time before it becomes legally mandated that they close off this capability, and deliver only software that is delivered from a verified (probably government licensed) channel.
- eyelovewe 5y ago
  Where does Linux fit into your story?
  - svilen_dobrev 5y ago
    hah. Linux. It lives on the mercy of hardware-majors. Which live on the mercy of the software-major (there's only one left, M$. They aren't multiple). i upgraded my home server few months ago. It was runing archlinux for 13 years. It was up-to-date, not some ancient codebase. Yet, the "new" 2y-old-tech motherboard/processor/memory combo did not even start / recognize the SSDs. Took me a week in debugging, and replacing the motherboard with another one. Exactly One check box in the BIOS/setup, yes, and your gone. The 2nd mb did have it. The 1st did not anymore. have fun

zmmmmm 5y ago

They can only choose to do that if they can run that software. We are pretty close to the situation already where users no longer have choice over what software they can run. The iPhone went there years ago. The situation on Android is tenuous. OSX and Windows both now both start from a secure boot mechanism. At this point it is still possible for a user to work around these things but this is now "at the pleasure" of the OS maker and not something the user actually controls. Removal of a couple of checkboxes is how far we are from losing user-controlled right to install software on any mainstream consumer supported OS. So I am arguing that now that operating system manufacturers have forfeited their ability to say they cannot prevent the user from installing software, it is only a matter of time before it becomes legally mandated that they close off this capability, and deliver only software that is delivered from a verified (probably government licensed) channel.

eyelovewe 5y ago
Where does Linux fit into your story?
- svilen_dobrev 5y ago
  hah. Linux. It lives on the mercy of hardware-majors. Which live on the mercy of the software-major (there's only one left, M$. They aren't multiple). i upgraded my home server few months ago. It was runing archlinux for 13 years. It was up-to-date, not some ancient codebase. Yet, the "new" 2y-old-tech motherboard/processor/memory combo did not even start / recognize the SSDs. Took me a week in debugging, and replacing the motherboard with another one. Exactly One check box in the BIOS/setup, yes, and your gone. The 2nd mb did have it. The 1st did not anymore. have fun