14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is one of the companies that have already sided with Apple in the fight against the FBI over a court ruling to help hack an iPhone, and in new statements, its chief legal officer reiterates Redmond’s position against backdoors that would expose users.
Brad Smith said at the RSA Conference in San Francisco that Microsoft does not agree with backdoors, explaining that such software would only be the first step towards more security threats that would be directly aimed at users and the data stored on their devices.
“When it comes to security, there is no technology as important as encryption,” Smith told the audience. “Despite the best of intentions, one thing is clear: the path to hell starts at the backdoor. We need to make sure encryption technology remains strong.”
Nobody would buy phones with backdoors
Smith then went on to explain the risks of developing backdoors that could help the FBI break into devices owned by users across the nation, emphasizing that no one would purchase a phone that they know can be hacked at any time.
“People will not use technology they do not trust and thus trust is the foundation for our entire industry,” he said.
This is clearly a signal that developing backdoors that could be used by the FBI to fight against terrorism or criminals could have a significant impact on the business of technology companies in the United States, including Apple, Microsoft, and any other big name that might be affected by similar court orders.
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook also warned that building backdoors is harmful for their business, as the company is now investing in making devices harder to hack in order to give buyers the security they’re looking for. “It’s not our business what’s on your phone,” Tim Cook said, although Cupertino has been criticized for sticking with its principles instead of helping authorities fight against terrorists.