Gadgets
Apple to scan iPhone photos for detecting child porn
Apple is seemingly gearing up to introduce a client side tool that would scan iPhones to identify child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on users’ phones. The move will seemingly encode strategic identifiers that would indicate CSAM from Apple’s end, and will hash these identifiers to run searchers on users’ iPhone photos on iCloud. This search will then return results based on the number of matches that Apple would find on a phone, and if it finds too many matches, a prompt of the result would be returned to Apple’s servers. The upcoming announcement has been tipped by Matthew Green, a cryptography and cyber security expert, and associate processor of computer science at Johns Hopkins University.
Detailing it in a series of tweets, Green wrote, “Initially, this will be used to perform client side scanning for cloud-stored photos. Eventually, it could be a key ingredient in adding surveillance to encrypted messaging systems. The ability to add a scanning system like this to E2E (end-to-end encrypted) messaging systems has been a major “ask” by law enforcement the world over.” He further raised concerns on what such technology could potentially do, in the wrong hands.
In simpler terms, the technology that Apple is reportedly set to release in order to crack down on child pornography will seemingly tap in to non-encrypted photos, such as user uploads on iCloud. Apple has also been a generally strong advocate of user privacy, with notable instances such as the San Bernardino incident — where Apple stood up against law enforcement’s demands that the company build a backdoor to help crack into the suspected shooter’s iPhone. A company’s previous actions, however, may not be enough to guarantee its future actions.
As Green explained in his tweets, a technology such as the one that Apple is building has the indicators of the backdoor to end to end encryption that so many lawkeeping bodies around the world have been asking for. Apple is essentially creating a technology that can help look for identifiers to specific types of content even within end to end encrypted media. This, in turn, may have serious implications to freedom of speech in encrypted conversation apps, where users with malicious intentions may use such technologies for targeting select individuals. In other words, as technology companies have stated over time, backdoors in the wrong hands may have significantly severe implications.
For now, though, it would be too early to state that such a move by Apple would be devastating towards privacy and security. However, privacy and security advocates have already claimed that such a move may not be in all-round best interests, even though Apple’s initial intentions may be noble. As Green states, “These systems rely on a database of “problematic media hashes” that you, as a consumer, can’t review. Imagine someone sends you a perfectly harmless political media file that you share with a friend. But that file shares a hash with some known child porn file?”
Going forward, it remains to be seen what the Apple CSAM inspection tool would bring to the table, once launched. As stated online, an announcement regarding the matter is expected soon.
Business
Apple is giving a huge discount on its gadgets: Details inside
If you want to buy an iPhone and were waiting for a nice offer, then we have a piece of good news for you! Amazon Summer Sale May 2022 has begun and they are offering major discounts on various smartphones, laptops, and smart TVs, among others.
The sale is live now on the e-commerce platform with no-cost EMI options and exchange discounts on various products. In addition to this, Amazon has also partnered with several banks including ICICI, Kotak Bank, and RBL so that customers get instant discounts of up to 10% using their cards and EMI transactions.
Customers can easily enjoy this summer sale and get massive discounts on iPhones. They can also compare prices on Flipkart Big Saving Days Sale 2022 before making a purchase.
Amazon Summer Sale May 2022: Discount offer on iPhone 13
Apple’s coveted phone model iPhone 13 in the 128 GB storage model will be available during the Amazon Summer Sale May 2022 for Rs 64,900. The MRP of the phone is Rs 79,900. This means that the customers will be able to enjoy a discount of up to Rs 15,000 on the purchase of the iPhone 13.
If you have an old iPhone in working condition then you will also be eligible to receive another additional discount worth up to Rs 17,000 on the iPhone 13.
Buy at Rs. 64,900 (MRP – Rs. 79,900)
Features of Apple iPhone 13
The iPhone is powered by an A15 Bionic processor with 6 core CPU. Apart from this, it has 16 core neural engines. With the iPhone 13, up to 512 GB of storage will be available. The iPhone 13 has a 6.1-inch Retina XDR display with 1000 nits brightness.
The iPhone 13 has a 12-megapixel dual rear camera setup. This time a new wide-angle camera has been given, whose aperture is f/1.6. With this, there is support for sensor optical stabilisation. Night mode has been made better than before. The second lens is also 12 megapixels ultra-wide and has an aperture of f/2.4.