Encryption

Apple has filed a legal appeal against the U.K. government’s demand to create a backdoor for accessing encrypted user data. The dispute involves Apple’s refusal to build a backdoor, the U.K. shifting from global to targeted access requests, and Apple discontinuing Advanced Data Protection for British users in February 2025.

A White House official highlighted the fragmented quantum technology supply chain as a major challenge in the global quantum race, noting the complexity of diverse hardware platforms and the need for government support. Reports from international and U.S. think tanks emphasized the international nature of the supply chain and reliance on foreign suppliers like China and Russia.

A new ransomware actor named Spirals executed a corporate intrusion, including initial access, data theft, and network encryption, within 24 hours.

Codex has begun encrypting prompts and now uses ciphertext for inference instead. The article is referenced in a GitHub issue and a Hacker News comment thread.

Trump signed orders to build a quantum computer and implement measures to protect against quantum computers that could break encryption. The initiative focuses on advancing quantum technology while addressing potential security risks.

The article discusses the historical ineffectiveness of export controls on encryption and spyware, highlighting examples like PGP and Mythos. It references TechCrunch's analysis of why cyber export controls have repeatedly failed to prevent the spread of such technologies.

The article argues that export controls on cybersecurity-related software have been ineffective for 30 years, citing examples like encryption and spyware. It questions why similar restrictions on Anthropic’s cybersecurity model Mythos would succeed now.

The US government is investing $2 billion into quantum computing research as concerns grow about quantum encryption threats to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. This funding represents a significant commitment to developing quantum-resistant security measures ahead of potential threats from advanced quantum computers.

In 2009, Norwegian student Kristoffer Koch bought 5,000 Bitcoin for $26.60 but forgot the password. Four years later, he cracked it as Bitcoin's price surged, selling a portion to buy an apartment in Oslo. His remaining Bitcoin is now worth over $450 million.

The article discusses how quantum computers could potentially steal Bitcoin within 9 minutes, highlighting a critical security threat posed by quantum computing to cryptocurrency encryption. It emphasizes the urgency of addressing vulnerabilities in current cryptographic systems.

The developer of VeraCrypt encryption software reported that Microsoft locked his account, potentially causing Windows users to face boot-up issues during device startup. This incident highlights potential conflicts between software developers and tech companies over account access and system functionality.