The UK has demanded a backdoor to iCloud that could affect Apple users worldwide…and Apple can’t talk about it. DeepSeek is sending information to ByteDance-controlled servers. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Jeff Butts, Marty Jencius, Ben Roethig, Web Bixby, and Eric Bolden dig in to both of these security-related topics and why they should matter to you. The panel also covers a recommendation about what not to do with your passwords. 

MacVoices is supported byTake Control Books: The Answers You Need Now, From Leading Experts. Start your library now.

Chapters:

00:05 UK Security Demands and Apple
02:09 Apple's Legal and PR Crisis
05:52 The Backdoor Debate
06:15 Risks of a Security Backdoor
07:52 DeepSeq Data Concerns
15:12 The DeepSeq Controversy
17:54 Password Security Myths
30:11 The Importance of Passwords
31:26 Corporate Use of AI Tools
32:27 Balancing Security and Convenience

Links:

British government secretly ordered Apple to create a worldwide iCloud backdoor
https://9to5mac.com/2025/02/07/british-government-secretly-ordered-apple-to-create-a-worldwide-icloud-backdoor/

U.K. orders Apple to let it spy on users’ encrypted accounts
https://archive.is/EzboV#selection-539.0-539.60

UK demands access to Apple users' encrypted data
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20g288yldko

DeepSeek iOS app sends data unencrypted to ByteDance-controlled servers
https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/02/deepseek-ios-app-sends-data-unencrypted-to-bytedance-controlled-servers/

Changing Your Passwords Isn't the Security Measure You Think It Is
https://lifehacker.com/tech/changing-your-passwords-isnt-the-security-measure-you-think-it-is

Take Control of Your Passwords by Joe Kissell
https://www.takecontrolbooks.com/passwords/

Guests:

Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at [email protected], on Mastodon at @[email protected], on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast.

Jeff Butts writes for XDA Develpers and groovyPost. Contact him on X as @clefmeister and on Instagram as @recoveringphoenix72.

David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @[email protected].

Dr. Marty Jencius has been an Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University since 2000. He has over 120 publications in books, chapters, journal articles, and others, along with 200 podcasts related to counseling, counselor education, and faculty life. His technology interest led him to develop the counseling profession ‘firsts,’ including listservs, a web-based peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Technology in Counseling, teaching and conferencing in virtual worlds as the founder of Counselor Education in Second Life, and podcast founder/producer of CounselorAudioSource.net and ThePodTalk.net. Currently, he produces a podcast about counseling and life questions, the Circular Firing Squad, and digital video interviews with legacies capturing the history of the counseling field. This is also co-host of The Vision ProFiles podcast. Generally, Marty is chasing the newest tech trends, which explains his interest in A.I. for teaching, research, and productivity. Marty is an active presenter and past president of the NorthEast Ohio Apple Corp (NEOAC).

Ben Roethig has been in the Apple Ecosystem since the System 7 Days. He is the a former Associate Editor with Geek Beat, Co-Founder of The Tech Hangout and Deconstruct and currently shares his thoughts on RoethigTech. Contact him on  Twitter and Mastodon.l

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