1Password security and backdoors

LeftCoastMan
LeftCoastMan
Community Member
in iOS

So, we're all aware of the battle brewing between Apple and the FBI regarding those alleged San Bernardino "terrorists," and their iPhone. Tim Cook has stated that they're drawing the line on creating a backdoor for the FBI.

We can all argue all day long about whether Apple is doing the right thing, but I take security to be sacrosanct for my devices.

My question is thus: will AgileBits cave to the FBI to provide a backdoor to 1Password? I know you all can make claim of one thing when it's hypothetical, but what happens if the FBI (or I suppose in your case, the RCMP) serves a warrant or subpoena? I see threads where you will not do that for family members, but that's easy.

I'd really like to know your official stance without legal verbiage. Will you stand with Tim Cook if this ever happens? Or because you're not a 100 billion dollar company, probably not? Or have you coded your software in such a way that if the FBI, MI-6 or the RCMP show up at your office, you can say "not only will we not do that for you, we can't."

1Password Version: Not Provided
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Comments

  • Ben
    Ben

    Hi @LeftCoastMan

    Thanks for taking the time to write in. We agree that this is a very important issue and we've issued a public statement on it:

    One of the key concepts of 1Password is this: we do not have access to your data, so there is no way we could give someone else access.

    I hope that helps!

    Ben

  • camilla
    camilla
    Community Member

    Hi

    Have just received a customer letter from Apple informing users that the United States government has demanded that Apple take an unprecedented step which threatens the security of their customers. Apple oppose this order, which has implications far beyond the legal case at hand.
    "....Specifically, the FBI wants Apple to make a new version of the iPhone operating system, circumventing several important security features, and install it on an iPhone recovered during the investigation. In the wrong hands, this software — which does not exist today — would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession."

    http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/

    If the US government gets away with this it would be totally devastating. To threaten Apple and similar companies to use the All Writs Act of 1789 to justify an expansion of its authority rather than asking for legislative action through Congress is totally wrong. Although in my believes it is totally wrong to implement this features at all.
    It will always swing back at you. If the nice guys knows about it the bad guys will too. Cause there are no nice guys when it comes to power.

    My question to you at Agilebits (1Password) would be, have the US government asked you to do the same "backdoor"?
    I believe they have, as 1Password is the biggest software/app used for storing secure documents and data.
    In that case it would be nice if you too could come out and tell your customers about this.

    Camilla

    1Password Version: Not Provided
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  • Stephen_C
    Stephen_C
    Community Member

    @camilla I've merged your post with a very recent thread on exactly the same issue, where you'll see AgileBits' comments.

    Stephen

  • Ben
    Ben

    Thanks for the assist, Stephen. :)

This discussion has been closed.