Apple security updates could be banned by British government (9to5mac.com)
from stopthatgirl7@kbin.social to technology@lemmy.world on 24 Aug 2023 12:31
https://kbin.social/m/technology@lemmy.world/t/376097

Everyone in the tech industry facepalms almost every time legislators try to pontificate on technology, but the British government appears to be trying to set a new record. After putting iMessage and FaceTime at risk, the government is now suggesting that it might ban some Apple security updates.

#technology

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[deleted] on 24 Aug 2023 12:43 next collapse

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Aesthesiaphilia@kbin.social on 24 Aug 2023 13:59 next collapse

Surveillance state.

graphite@lemmy.world on 24 Aug 2023 14:25 next collapse

Under the latest plans, tech companies would need to notify the British government before rolling out a security fix but might be refused permission if it blocks a vulnerability that’s being exploited by security services…

I suppose these days it’s cheaper to find some half baked vulnerability and pray it lasts a while instead of just adding back doors in the devices

umami_wasbi@lemmy.ml on 24 Aug 2023 15:11 next collapse

Or wait the service provider submit a fix, deny it, and then exploit. Even cheaper than find one cuz they just need to wait to be summitted.

Petter1@lemm.ee on 25 Aug 2023 09:15 collapse

iOS Jailbreaker‘s life

ikidd@lemmy.world on 24 Aug 2023 15:31 collapse

That’s the stupidest fucking thing I’ve heard from a government that seems to take pride in how stupid and authoritarian their legislation can get. They’re giving the US a run for it’s money.

graphite@lemmy.world on 25 Aug 2023 01:29 next collapse

It’s beginning to feel all bad at this point, yeah, I agree.

They’ll save a lot of money, but (a) the cost isn’t worth it and (b) it’s just totally assenine logic that takes a dump on the idea of a government’s existence having any sense of meaning that goes beyond serving the interests of the wealthy.

djmarcone@lemm.ee on 25 Aug 2023 10:31 collapse

If the reason is actually for leaving 0days open then it is actually for the USA. Since the USA spies on foreign citizens such as UK citizens, the UK spies on the USA citizens.

Because otherwise it would be illegal. Or something.

BigVault@kbin.social on 24 Aug 2023 15:56 next collapse

Hospital emergency rooms across the UK are likely to be declaring a major incident to deal with the rash of injuries caused by the force of facepalming and banging heads against desks throughout the tech sector.

The NHS is struggling enough as it is.

amzd@kbin.social on 24 Aug 2023 16:21 next collapse

Ok so Apple would have to disclose the vulnerability to follow proposed EU rules then can't implement the fix in UK? That seems like a disaster waiting to happen

Powerpoint@lemmy.ca on 24 Aug 2023 17:08 next collapse

The UK did allow Brexit to happen, they haven’t exactly been making the best decisions.

killeronthecorner@lemmy.world on 24 Aug 2023 18:09 collapse

Hey now, we may be dumb and we may be obstinate but I’m tired time for bed grumble grumble

LeTak@lemm.ee on 24 Aug 2023 17:33 collapse

Imagine Apple shares a patch and the UK does not approve the install. Ok nice. Now everyone knows a vulnerability that affects most of the Apple devices in UK. What could go wrong.

pivot_root@lemmy.world on 24 Aug 2023 18:51 next collapse

Next step: require all security patches to be submitted to the UK government for review before disclosing it to any other government or to the public.

Spotlight7573@lemmy.world on 24 Aug 2023 18:59 next collapse

A most favored nation clause, but for security. Great… just what we needed.

imperator3733@lemmy.world on 25 Aug 2023 01:43 collapse

At that point Apple might as well pull out of doing business in the UK entirely.

KSPAtlas@sopuli.xyz on 25 Aug 2023 10:38 next collapse

As someone in the uk, please have them do so the uk learns its lesson

Honytawk@lemmy.zip on 25 Aug 2023 12:47 collapse

Yes, pulling out of the UK is on the tables now.

See, one of the amazing parts of the EU is the capability of collective bargaining.

If the UK was still in the EU, then any company looking to pull out of the UK because of laws would cause the EU to ban the company in every other country until they comply.

A company would essentially need to pull out of the entire EU in those instances, and with their 700 million rich inhabitants, that is one huge market to leave.

But leaving a 70 million market isn’t that big of a deal.

PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee on 26 Aug 2023 01:53 collapse

Apple immediately ceases sales and support for all apple products in the UK.

UltraMagnus0001@lemmy.world on 24 Aug 2023 16:24 next collapse

nsa is happy

lustrum@sh.itjust.works on 24 Aug 2023 16:44 next collapse

This might have worked a decade ago. Companies are EXTREMELY hot on device patches now. I work for a big company and we have a week to install the latest iOS patches on our phone. We get regular updates when software is out. If windows gets a certain patch behind the system can’t update, it requires a full flash.

The same with banning encryption, the average Joe might not care but big companies have a lot to protect in IP and legally. Imagine a US company wanting send IP to a UK company for design/validation/manufacturing. They just won’t because our devices/networks will be vulnerable to IP being stolen

Honytawk@lemmy.zip on 25 Aug 2023 12:49 collapse

They would need to put the IP on a flash drive and hand deliver it like it was the 1970’s.

KelsonV@lemmy.world on 24 Aug 2023 17:54 next collapse

I was expecting this to be a half-baked plan to block something using a less-than-half-baked definition that would also cover security updates.

The fact that someone actually thinks explicitly blocking security updates is a good idea is just appalling.

XTornado@lemmy.ml on 25 Aug 2023 05:55 next collapse

They want to end the “”“British Empire”“” once and for all. It’s a long term plan that started with Brexit.

randomperson@lemmy.world on 25 Aug 2023 07:22 collapse

Is Britain as relevant nowadays as people think tho?

XTornado@lemmy.ml on 25 Aug 2023 08:42 next collapse

I don’t think , that’s why the quotes on British Empire half joking, but let’s be honest I am clueless here maybe they are more relevant than I think they are.

BilboBargains@lemmy.world on 25 Aug 2023 10:23 next collapse

Every day we sink further into irrelevance. Look at the fate of Greece. Their culture and contributions to mathematics, philosophy and literature created the foundations of modern civilization. Now they are a holiday destination and not much else.

Claidheamh@slrpnk.net on 25 Aug 2023 11:01 collapse

Well, you guys don’t even have holiday destination going for you. Good luck lads.

BilboBargains@lemmy.world on 26 Aug 2023 07:13 collapse

We’re fucked!

FlyingSquid@lemmy.world on 25 Aug 2023 10:45 next collapse

When you have submarines with nuclear missiles on them, you remain pretty damn relevant.

randomperson@lemmy.world on 25 Aug 2023 15:57 collapse

North Korea relevant then?

Honytawk@lemmy.zip on 25 Aug 2023 12:41 next collapse

There are those who think Britain is still great. That is why they could convince so many to vote for Brexit.

But since the world has become so interconnected, and Britain has lost all its colonies, it won’t be capable of dealing with the world on its own anymore.

Some needed Brexit in order to come to that conclusion.

PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee on 26 Aug 2023 01:51 collapse

No

Lowered_lifted@lemmy.world on 25 Aug 2023 09:00 next collapse

Lol @ their intelligence agencies telling them that this is a bad idea & them going ahead anyway

BilboBargains@lemmy.world on 25 Aug 2023 10:19 next collapse

Welcome to the world of British politics. When their advisor on drugs, the scientist prof David Nutt, pointed out that riding a horse is statistically known to be more dangerous than MDMA he was summarily dismissed from his post. These people don’t want inconvenient facts to spoil their Victorian era conception of reality. So it will go with their absurd and pernicious spying charter.

moosemoosemoose@lemmy.ca on 25 Aug 2023 12:29 collapse

Reminds me of a quote I have always enjoyed:

“We know no spectacle so ridiculous as the British public in one of its periodical fits of morality.” Thomas B. MacCaulay

VampyreOfNazareth@lemm.ee on 26 Aug 2023 01:29 collapse

Add to the law that all politicians phone data must be shared with the tax payer.