President Obama reveals he is not allowed to use Apple's iPhone due to security risks
President Barack Obama on Wednesday said the Secret Service does not allow him to use Apple's iPhone for security reasons, explaining why the leader of the free world still carries around a BlackBerry from 2007.
The president's documented fondness of BlackBerry devices may be overdone, as he admitted to a group of White House visitors that the Canadian smartphone is the only device certified to be used in his post, reports AFP via Security Week.
"I'm not allowed for security reasons to have an iPhone," Obama said to at an event promoting his health care initiative. He added that his daughters, Sasha and Malia, are iPhone users who spend a lot of their time using their devices.
Before he assumed office in 2009, Obama was regarded as the most tech-savvy president in history. A large part of that description came from his adoption of mobile tech like the BlackBerry, which he fought to keep against the wishes of the Secret Service.
As highlighted in a Washington Post report from September, presidents quickly fall behind the times when it comes to the cutting-edge. With computer technology moving at a steady yet rapid pace, proven government security measures cannot be installed fast enough to allow for the same flexibility afforded the everyday consumer.
BlackBerry is known to have solid security and was the go-to device for the U.S. government before the rise of the iPhone, but with the proliferation of Apple's handset and those running Google's Android operating system, things have changed. Earlier this year, Apple's last-generation iOS 6 operating system was granted FIPS [Federal Information Processing Standard] 140-2 level 1 validation, allowing certain government agencies to adopt specialized devices running the software.
The low-level cryptographic certification gives Apple a foot in the door for government contracts, like Department of Defense employees, but still limits iPhone and iPad use to security clearance levels well below those assigned to the president.
While it is unlikely that President Obama will be able to use an iPhone during his remaining tenure, he has been seen carrying and using other Apple devices, including a third-generation iPad and a 15-inch MacBook Pro.
The president's documented fondness of BlackBerry devices may be overdone, as he admitted to a group of White House visitors that the Canadian smartphone is the only device certified to be used in his post, reports AFP via Security Week.
"I'm not allowed for security reasons to have an iPhone," Obama said to at an event promoting his health care initiative. He added that his daughters, Sasha and Malia, are iPhone users who spend a lot of their time using their devices.
Before he assumed office in 2009, Obama was regarded as the most tech-savvy president in history. A large part of that description came from his adoption of mobile tech like the BlackBerry, which he fought to keep against the wishes of the Secret Service.
As highlighted in a Washington Post report from September, presidents quickly fall behind the times when it comes to the cutting-edge. With computer technology moving at a steady yet rapid pace, proven government security measures cannot be installed fast enough to allow for the same flexibility afforded the everyday consumer.
BlackBerry is known to have solid security and was the go-to device for the U.S. government before the rise of the iPhone, but with the proliferation of Apple's handset and those running Google's Android operating system, things have changed. Earlier this year, Apple's last-generation iOS 6 operating system was granted FIPS [Federal Information Processing Standard] 140-2 level 1 validation, allowing certain government agencies to adopt specialized devices running the software.
The low-level cryptographic certification gives Apple a foot in the door for government contracts, like Department of Defense employees, but still limits iPhone and iPad use to security clearance levels well below those assigned to the president.
While it is unlikely that President Obama will be able to use an iPhone during his remaining tenure, he has been seen carrying and using other Apple devices, including a third-generation iPad and a 15-inch MacBook Pro.
Comments
Edit: On second thoughts don't limit that to extremely ...
Only brand certified for use?
What does this mean?
Zillions of phones are certified for use.
Maybe he's also the only one who can get carnivora?
BlackBerry is known to have solid security and was the go-to device for the U.S. government before the rise of the iPhone, but with the proliferation of Apple's handset and those running Google's Android operating system, things have changed. Earlier this year, Apple's last-generation iOS 6 operating system was granted FIPS [Federal Information Processing Standard] 140-2 validation, allowing certain government agencies to adopt specialized devices running the software.
Does each version of iOS have to undergo its own FIPS 140-2 validation process? How long does the process take relative to the lifecycle of each iOS version?
I am surprised that Apple doesn't have some cutting-edge R&D in place ready to work with and serve a US President's security needs. Especially given that we’re six years into the product.
They probably do have such technology already. It’s the dinosaur known as the Federal Government that can’t adapt and progress as we have so plainly seen in recent weeks with their website prowess.
It’s also possible that Apple’s technology is too good and doesn’t allow the NSA to do its thing. What? You don’t think the NSA taps the President’s phone? I’d take that bet any time.
he uses an android phone instead.
Does each version of iOS have to undergo its own FIPS 140-2 validation process? How long does the process take relative to the lifecycle of each iOS version?
FIPS 140 refers to the certification of the cryptographic module. Basically the encryption functions operate correctly and feature a basic set of algorithms. The goal of the standard is to fight against the fake/poorly implemented encryption that was prevalent during the early days of commercial cryptography. A certified module means that when you ask it to encrypt something with AES 256, you have assurance that it really encrypted properly.
It doesn't vouch for the security or design of the rest of the device or platform. For that, you have Common Criteria. As an example, the security disaster that was Windows XP had a FIPS 140 certification, as has OS X for a while. The key being that the BlackBerry system is Common Criteria EAL 4+.
Usually there is little need to change the crypto library, CoreCrypto in Apple's case, so they are left unchanged for many versions to avoid the time and expense of recertification.
I'm thinking the issue might be with how advanced iOS is compared to BB OS. It may not be possible to have the kind of security they want like redirecting to specific servers instead of what's built into the OS at a low level.
I hope no one thinks he's rocking a modern version of BB OS
What does Putin use?
I think he uses the latest Voskoboynikov:
I'm thinking the issue might be with how advanced iOS is compared to BB OS. It may not be possible to have the kind of security they want like redirecting to specific servers instead of what's built into the OS at a low level.
I hope no one thinks he's rocking a modern version of BB OS
It is kind of like why Battlestar Galactica survived the Cylon attack. Low tech. The Cylons targeted advanced systems.
What an inflammatory piece of yellow journalism. Being able to pose with an iPhone does not make you tech savvy. Obama has demonstrated a remarkable ability to not grasp technology nor the business world. The list of failure his administration has created is long but includes the like of A123, Soylandra and many others. In a nut shell he doesn't have a clue about technology.
When your development team tells your project managers "we need three to six months to test this new website", and you find out the hard way on launch day that they only scheduled three weeks for testing, well, someone wasn't very tech savvy....
I think he uses the latest Voskoboynikov:
I can assure you that Putin, former KGB head, has a very secure cellphone.
Putin uses the Soviet equivalent of a cell phone. That's why his car is spilling out that fine wire as he drives around Moscow.
I can definitely see why jumping on the latest new advances is NOT good for security though!
Should read "Time Cook bricked my iPhone for my stupid comparison of the iPhone 5s launch and the ACA launch"
If only Apple still had iWeb