According to an Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) spokesperson, the company has rehired Jon Callas, a leading cryptography expert, this month to further improve the security features of its devices. Both parties; however, did not comment on the big move yet.
Callas’ Involvement with Apple
Callas is known for co-founding Blackphone, Symantec Corporation (NASDAQ:SYMC), and Silent Circle, which are some of the most notable secure communications companies in the world. He has been with Apple first in the 1990s. Callas rejoined the company again around 2009 to 2011, during which he engineered an encryption system for the protection of data on Mac PCs.
Earlier this year, Callas reiterated that data encryption is more important today. He even said that the primary privacy concern stems from advertisements and not from federal agencies.
According to Callas, the proprietary messaging app, iMessage, uses thorough encryption. However, there are certain limitations to the encryption technology employed by Apple. Speculations have it that Callas might be working on those little loopholes to further strengthen the entire encryption system.
Apple’s Ongoing Security Plight
The US government wants Apple to work with the police force in unlocking and accessing encrypted information on its customers’ devices. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) asked California and New York (NY) federal judges to compel the iPhone maker into allowing the unlocking of encrypted information, a move that will help in solving cases. On the other hand, the California-based company is strong in its position to protect its customers’ data.
However, without Apple’s help, the law enforcers were later able to decrypt the iPhone 5C used by one of the culprits in the San Bernardino attacks last year. Given this, the issue involving encryption security continues to haunt the technology giant.
Apple’s fight is far from over, upholding that it cannot circumvent its own security measures because it will compromise its products. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which believes that technology companies need to work hand-in-hand with the government, once again faced the company last month debating over the encryption issue.
