Apple-backed study finds the ‘only feasible way’ to protect consumer data

At a time when data breaches are on the rise, a study commissioned by Apple has found “only feasible” way to protect consumer data. It also said that in the first nine months of 2023, US data breaches increased by 20% compared to the full year 2022.

The study, which was conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Stuart E. Madnick, suggests that as breaches become so commonplace, the only feasible way to protect consumer data is wider use of end-to-end encryption.

The study, however, does not include any findings of data breaches at Apple itself. It was conducted about a year after the company rolled out a new feature to expand end-to-end encryption for data stored in its iCloud service.

“In today’s interconnected world, virtually every organisation relies on a wide range of vendors and software. As a result, hackers only need to exploit vulnerabilities in third-party software or a vendor’s system to gain access to the data stored by every organisation that relies on that vendor,” the study said, as per news agency Reuters.

Encryption makes data inaccessible
End-to-end encryption makes it impossible for the company that stores the data – or any hacker and even law enforcement – to unscramble a user’s data without also possessing additional information, such as the password.

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In this light, Britain is considering a law that will allow the countries media regulator Ofcom to have the power to access private messages of users. It has also encouraged companies such as Meta, which owns WhatsApp and Signal, not to expand their use of end-to-end encryption.

The study also found that technology companies are frequently attacked by hackers because they provide services to valuable targets. Microsoft was hit by Chinese hackers this year tens of thousands of US State Department emails were stolen in the attack.

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At a time when data breaches are on the rise, a study commissioned by Apple has found “only feasible” way to protect consumer data. It also said that in the first nine months of 2023, US data breaches increased by 20% compared to the full year 2022.

The study, which was conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Stuart E. Madnick, suggests that as breaches become so commonplace, the only feasible way to protect consumer data is wider use of end-to-end encryption.

The study, however, does not include any findings of data breaches at Apple itself. It was conducted about a year after the company rolled out a new feature to expand end-to-end encryption for data stored in its iCloud service.

“In today’s interconnected world, virtually every organisation relies on a wide range of vendors and software. As a result, hackers only need to exploit vulnerabilities in third-party software or a vendor’s system to gain access to the data stored by every organisation that relies on that vendor,” the study said, as per news agency Reuters.

Encryption makes data inaccessible
End-to-end encryption makes it impossible for the company that stores the data – or any hacker and even law enforcement – to unscramble a user’s data without also possessing additional information, such as the password.

Read Also

In this light, Britain is considering a law that will allow the countries media regulator Ofcom to have the power to access private messages of users. It has also encouraged companies such as Meta, which owns WhatsApp and Signal, not to expand their use of end-to-end encryption.

The study also found that technology companies are frequently attacked by hackers because they provide services to valuable targets. Microsoft was hit by Chinese hackers this year tens of thousands of US State Department emails were stolen in the attack.

FacebookTwitterLinkedin

end of article