Apple hires Encryption Expert to Beef Up Security on its Devices

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies have waged legal war on encryption and privacy technologies.

You may have heard many news stories about the legal battle between Apple and the FBI over unlocking an iPhone that belonged to the San Bernardino shooter. However, that was just one battle in a much larger fight.

Now, in an effort to make its iPhone surveillance-and-hack proof, Apple has rehired security expert and cryptographer Jon Callas, who co-founded the widely-used email encryption software PGP and the secure-messaging system Silent Circle that sells the Blackphone.

This is not Apple’s first effort over its iPhone security.

Just a few months back, the company hired Frederic Jacobs, one of the key developers of Signal — World's most secure, open source and encrypted messaging app.

Now Apple has rehired Callas, who has previously worked for Apple twice, first from 1995 to 1997 and then from 2009 to 2011.

During his second joining, Callas designed a full-disk encryption system to protect data stored on Macintosh computers.

Apple's decision to rehire Callas comes after rumors that the company is working on improving the security of its iOS devices in such a way that even Apple can't hack.

Earlier this year, Apple was engaged in a battle with the US Department of Justice (DoJ) over a court order asking the company to help the FBI unlock iPhone 5C of San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook.

Basically, the company was deliberately forced to create a special, backdoored version of its iOS, so that the FBI may be able to Brute Force the passcode on Farook's iPhone without losing the data stored in it.

Although Apple refused to do so, and now the Apple wanted to remove its own ability to break its iPhone security in future iPhone models, thereby eliminating the chances for government and intelligence agencies for demanding backdoors.

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Microsoft Keeps Backup of Your Encryption Key on its Server — Here's How to Delete it

Have you recently purchased a Windows computer?

Congratulations! As your new Windows computer has inbuilt disk encryption feature that is turned on by default in order to protect your data in case your device is lost or stolen.

Moreover, In case you lost your encryption keys then don't worry, Microsoft has a copy of your Recovery Key.

But Wait! If Microsoft already has your Disk Encryption Keys then what’s the use of using disk encryption feature? Doesn't Encryption mean Only you can unlock your disk?

Microsoft Probably Holds your Encryption Keys

Since the launch of Windows 8.1, Microsoft is offering disk encryption as a built-in feature for Windows laptops, Windows phones and other devices.

However, there is a little-known fact, highlighted by The Intercept, that if you have logged into Windows 10 using your Microsoft account, your system had automatically uploaded a copy of your recovery key to Microsoft’s servers secretly, and you can't prevent device encryption from sending your recovery key.

Note: Do not get confuse device encryption with BitLocker. Both works same but have different configuration options. BitLocker offers users a choice whether or not they want to backup their Recovery keys on Windows server.

Why Should You Worry?

• If a hacker hacks your Microsoft account, he can make a copy of your recovery key before you delete it (method described below).
• Any Rogue employee at Microsoft with access to user data can access your recovery key.
• If Microsoft itself get hacked, the hacker can have their hands on your recovery key.
• Even Law Enforcement or Spy agencies could also request Microsoft to hand over your recovery key.

"Your computer is now only as secure as that database of keys held by Microsoft, which means it may be vulnerable to hackers, foreign governments, and people who can extort Microsoft employees," said Matthew Green, a cryptography professor at Johns Hopkins University.

How to Delete your Recovery Key from your Microsoft Account?

Although there's no way to prevent a new Windows computer from uploading the recovery key at the very first time you log into your Microsoft account, you can delete the existing recovery key from your Microsoft account and generate a new one.

Follow these simple steps in order to remove your recovery key from your Microsoft account:

Step 1: Open this website and log in with your Microsoft Account

Step 2: You will find list of recovery keys backed up to your Microsoft Account

Step 3: Take a back of your recovery Keys locally

Step 4: Go ahead and delete your recovery key from Microsoft Account.

Important Fact: Green also pointed out that even after deleting the recovery key from your Microsoft account, there is no guarantee that the key has been removed from the company's server.

Instant Solution: To solve this issue, Windows users are recommended to stop using their old encryption keys and generate a new one without sharing it with Microsoft.

How to Generate a New Encryption key (Without Sending a copy to Microsoft)?

Sorry for Windows Home Edition users, but Windows Pro or Enterprise users can create new key by decrypting whole hard disk and then re-encrypt the disk, and this time in such a way that you will actually get asked how you want to backup your Recovery Key.

Step 1: Go to Start, type "Bitlocker," and click "Manage BitLocker."

Step 2: Click "Turn off BitLocker" and it will decrypt your disk.

Step 3: Once done, Click "Turn on BitLocker" again.

Step 4: Then Windows will ask you: How you want to backup your Recovery Key. Make sure to DO NOT SELECT "Save to your Microsoft Account." That's it.

Congratulations! 

Finally, the new Windows device you purchased specially for disk encryption feature has now enabled the feature, and Microsoft no longer can unlock it.

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