(과학기술) 디폴트(고정값)로 암호화 도입하는 구글과 애플

출처: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-29276955

19 September 2014 Last updated at 11:55

Google and Apple to introduce default encryption 디폴트(고정값)로 암호화 도입하는 구글과 애플

By Joe MillerTechnology Reporter

Google's devices have offered the option of encryption, but many users did not make use of the feature 구글의 장치들에는 암호화 옵선이 있다. 그러나 많은 사용자들은 이 기능을 사용하지 않고 있다.

Google has announced that its next mobile operating system, Android L, will encrypt users' data by default. 구글은 자사의 차기 모바일 구동시스템 안드로이드 L은 사용자에 대한 정보를 디폴트(고정값)로 암호화 할 것이라고 공언했다.

The measure will make it more difficult for private information to be hacked or handed to law enforcement agencies. 이와 같은 조치는 개인정보가 누출되거나 사법당국에 넘어가는 걸 더욱 어렵게 만든다.

On Thursday, Apple said that devices running its new iOS8 software would be encrypted by default, with even the company itself unable to gain access. 지난 목요일, 애플社는 자사의 신상품 iOS8 소프트웨어를 구동하는 장치들은 디폴트로 암호화 될 것이라고 밝혔다.이렇게 암호화하면 애플社 자신도 접근이 어렵다. 

Both firms have offered encryption for some time, but many users were unaware of its existence or had not enabled it. 두 회사는 상당 기간 암호화 기능을 제공해오고 있으나, 다수 사용자들은 그런 기능이 있는지도 모르고 있었고 아니면 (알더라도) 그렇게 하는 법을 모르고 있었다. 

Earlier this week, Apple's boss Tim Cook posted an online messageassuring users the company's philosophy was that a "great customer experience shouldn't come at the expense of your privacy".

Swipe 손가락으로 쓸기

As well as announcing default encryption for all devices running the new iOS8 software, Mr Cook took a thinly veiled swipe at Google, saying that Apple would not use its customers' information to sell things to them.

"We don't 'monetise' the information you store on your iPhone or in iCloud," he wrote, "and we don't read your email or your messages to get information to market to you."

He added that although Apple does have an advertising business, called iAd, the function can be disabled by users.

Shortly after, Google announced its stance on privacy, also embracing default encryption. A spokesman said: "For over three years, Android has offered encryption, and keys are not stored off of the device, so they cannot be shared with law enforcement.

"As part of our next Android release, encryption will be enabled by default out of the box, so you won't even have to think about turning it on."

Both Apple and Google follow in the footsteps of the now somewhat beleaguered Blackberry, which has encrypted data by default for some time.

The firms' focus on privacy comes after nude photos of celebrities were leaked online earlier this month.

The breach, which affected actress Jennifer Lawrence, among others, was linked by some security experts to vulnerabilities in Apple's iCloud storage service.

Law enforcement

The introduction of default encryption also protects US firms from having to hand over data to law enforcement agencies.

As the companies themselves do not have access to users' passwords, which unlock the encryption, they are not actually in possession of the data concerned.

Several of the largest US tech firms have been fighting government requests for their users' private data, including Microsoft, Google, Twitter, Facebook and Dropbox.

David Emm, a senior researcher at security firm Kaspersky Lab, told the BBC that automatic encryption was "probably more about privacy than about protection".

"Customers will find some reassurance in the fact that their data can't routinely fall into third-party hands," he said.

However he added that the measure only "applies to stuff on a [Apple or Android] device, but not necessarily to stuff you put in the cloud, which could still be accessible to law enforcement agencies".