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View Full Version : Shocking: FBI "overestimated" number of encrypted cell phones in criminal investigations



TFOGGER
05-24-2018, 21:03
By a factor of at least 7, while screaming for back doors...


https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/05/23/613763355/fbi-over-counted-encrypted-phones-connected-to-crimes-by-a-lot



"The FBI relied upon information from these databases to publicly report that approximately 7,775 devices could not be accessed in Fiscal Year 2017, despite the FBI having the legal authority to do so," the statement said, adding that the "statistics are incorrect."

A report (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fbi-repeatedly-overstated-encryption-threat-figures-to-congress-public/2018/05/22/5b68ae90-5dce-11e8-a4a4-c070ef53f315_story.html?utm_term=.8f899c671aa3)by The Washington Post suggests a more precise figure is between 1,000 to 2,000 phones.
As recently as January, FBI Director Christopher Wray quoted the inflated figure and said it represented more than half of all the smartphones the FBI had collected in the year-long timeframe. The previous fiscal year's count was 650 devices (https://www.fbi.gov/news/speeches/the-fbis-approach-to-the-cyber-threat), as reported by then-director James Comey.
Wray, like his predecessor, subsequently called for cooperation from the private sector because "it's going to be a lot worse in just a couple of years if we don't find a responsible solution."

ben4372
05-24-2018, 21:33
"it's going to be a lot worse in just a couple of years if we don't find a responsible solution."

I like this quote. reminds me of "reasonable restrictions". The don't make it easy for us. Why make it easy for them. Make them get smarter. If a smart attorney or accountant can beat the government when they have unlimited resources, time and a judge that is paid by the people. They can figure this out. They are just being lazy.

Any good criminal or tech smart person could make the phone all but invisible. I get the sense that their is no shortage of ineptness over there.

Bailey Guns
05-24-2018, 21:35
The FBI. Most corrupt LE organization in the history of the country. This doesn't surprise me.

Gman
05-24-2018, 21:56
The .gov wants to backdoor all of us.

cstone
05-24-2018, 22:10
I was once in a course and one of the guest speakers was Phil Zimmerman. He was a brave man to come and talk to us as he had just developed and released PGP (Pretty Good Privacy). Many of us were just beginning to see cases involving encrypted evidence in crimes involving some very evil, sick individuals. All of us went after Zimmerman like dogs on fresh meat. Some of our group never let up and probably still dislike what Zimmerman and other like minded cryptographer/programmers have done to make gathering evidence harder. Some of us in the class were a bit more understanding of Zimmerman's motives.

IMO, if you can't find a way around encrypted data, you are probably not very good as a criminal investigator. Encryption often slows down the process, which is very frustrating in the few cases where time is of the essence. That is when you need to be creative. Someone, somewhere has already cracked the same nut you are working on so networking with others in your field has major benefits.

Just like firearms, I want access to the same data tools bought and paid for by my tax dollars. I won't be holding my breath waiting for them...the tools or the firearms.

Be safe.

brutal
05-25-2018, 00:08
FBI turds.

I have a client who's new chief security officer, some ex FBI asshat, makes us call the help desk EVERY FUCKING DAY to have our VPN access enabled while working a project, and we're using 2FA. There's not even a challenge question, just give them your login name. Stupid fuck.

Fucking fuckers are only a freakin retail chain for Christ sake's, not gov or financial or health care.

IMHO, If you're that unsure of your network's security, you don't deserve the job.

ChadAmberg
05-25-2018, 21:29
The FBI. Most corrupt LE organization in the history of the country. This doesn't surprise me.

It's like there are really two different FBI's. One has technicians that fake lab results to result in convictions, murder innocent people, spy on citizens, and is corrupt to the core.

The other FBI is on tv shows.

DavieD55
05-26-2018, 00:43
It's like there are really two different FBI's. One has technicians that fake lab results to result in convictions, murder innocent people, spy on citizens, and is corrupt to the core.

The other FBI is on tv shows.

This ^

Justin
05-26-2018, 18:41
They don't want you to be able to own an AR15.

Why?

They don't want you to be able to own 30 round magazines.

Why?

They don't want you to be able to communicate via encrypted methods.

Why?

DavieD55
05-27-2018, 18:35
Red flag laws = because anyone who speaks about the fraud, waste, corruption and abuse must be some sort of conspiracy theorist lunatic. [sheepshagger]