Encryption

Apple’s focus on privacy slowing HomeKit rollout as cutting-edge encryption produces unacceptable lag

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 22, 2015

HomeKit, Apple's platform for the connected home, sounds terrific on paper. In reality, HomeKit is like CarPlay, another Apple platform plagued with slower than expected rollout.

There are currently only five HomeKit-compatible accessories on the market: the Ecobee3, Elgato Eve, iHome iSP5 SmartPlug, Insteon Hub and Lutron Caseta Wireless Lighting Starter Kit.

A new report alleges that wider HomeKit adoption is being held back by Apple's stringent encryption requirements. Apparently, Bluetooth chips currently available on the market and certified for HomeKit just can't handle Apple's super strong encryption without degrading the experience.

As Forbes reported Wednesday, Apple imposes a high level of encryption on HomeKit accessory makers in order to prevent eavesdropping and protect the privacy of its users. Apple's focus on privacy, however, has created unacceptable levels of lag in prototype Bluetooth products whose chips have sub-par processing capability.

Department of Justice compelling smartphone makers to bypass encryption

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 2, 2014

The United States Department of Justice is reportedly pursuing an unusual legal strategy to compel cellphone makers to assist investigations by removing device encryption on iPhones and other mobile devices, according to findings by technology website Ars Technica.

Tapping the All Writs Act, feds want Apple’s help to defeat encrypted phones, as revealed by newly discovered court documents from two federal criminal cases in New York and California.

WhatsApp starts encrypting instant messages on Android, iOS and other platforms coming soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

WhatsApp, the most popular instant-messaging platform with more than 600 million users which Facebook snapped up for $16 billions earlier this year, has started to protect data with end-to-end encryption, The Wall Street Journal reports.

For the time being, text messages exchanged between Android users of WhatsApp are being encrypted by default.

It shouldn't be too long until the company adds encryption to the iOS app and other mobile platforms. Encryption protects users' communications from governments and hackers alike by making the data unreadable as it travels between servers.

Apple is now encrypting your iCloud emails in transit between providers

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2014

A month ago, Apple confirmed that it would soon start encrypting iCloud Mail traffic in transit.

As Google's Transparency Report noted at the time, Apple and several major email providers did not properly encrypt email messages sent and received from other providers like Gmail and Yahoo, creating security concerns.

Although Apple only encrypts emails sent between its own iCloud customers, the company appears to have stepped up iCloud Mail security and is now finally protecting your emails from eavesdropping as they travel between various third-party email service providers using end-to-end encryption...

Microsoft now encrypts your OneDrive connections and Outlook emails

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Microsoft's OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) is great if you need to store your files in the cloud and sync them between devices seamlessly. And with the recently introduced 15GB free tier, OneDrive has become even more competitive compared to Dropbox and its pedestrian 2GB free tier.

Also, Microsoft's web-based email - which went through several rebranding efforts and is currently known as Outlook.com - has its loyal following.

Those who've been concerned about general security of their emails and OneDrive files needn't worry as Microsoft now employs end-to-end encryption on both services to prevent eavesdropping as data travels between servers...

Apple working to encrypt iCloud emails in transit

Joe Rossignol ∙ June 13, 2014

Email encryption is a hot topic right now. A few weeks ago, Google published a report that reveals how much email sent in transit is encrypted and which major providers are taking measures to encrypt their own emails. Then yesterday, the NPR published a more in-depth report (via 9to5Mac) that looks at how well major email providers in the United States are doing at protecting the data of users online.

As it turns out, Apple was among several major email providers failing to properly encrypt its emails sent and received from other providers like Gmail and Yahoo. Following the report, however, the iPhone maker reached out to NPR to confirm that it will be working on encrypting its emails in transit. The company says the change will occur "soon," but no timeline was provided…