Boris Johnson ‘can’t remember passcode’ to phone with Covid WhatsApp messages

Original post by Talkative Toad

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boris-johnson-can-t-remember-passcode-to-phone-with-covid-whatsapp-messages/ar-AA1dOFA2
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boris-johnson-forgot-password-of-old-phone-wanted-by-covid-inquiry/ar-AA1dOEwL

Probably a non-story here, but it does seem suspicious and well-timed in my opinion :rolleyes:

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What do you think?

More than a little dodgy but great publicity for the phone and WhatsApp. Any dodgy doers now know that their encrypted info is safe.😂😂

Original post by Talkative Toad

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boris-johnson-can-t-remember-passcode-to-phone-with-covid-whatsapp-messages/ar-AA1dOFA2
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boris-johnson-forgot-password-of-old-phone-wanted-by-covid-inquiry/ar-AA1dOEwL

Probably a non-story here, but it does seem suspicious and well-timed in my opinion :rolleyes:

.

What do you think?

Its probably one of his kids birthdays ... but he only has 10 attempts to get it right.

OP

Original post by mqb2766

Its probably one of his kids birthdays ... but he only has 10 attempts to get it right.

I just don't fully buy it given the circumstances

Reply 5

mqb2766

Original post by Talkative Toad

I just don't fully buy it given the circumstances

You could probably put that tag line on most of what Boris does.

People
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/19/rebekah-vardys-agent-dropped-phone-in-sea-to-hide-evidence-trial-hears
are very careless their phones when there may (allegedly) be something incriminating on there.

OP

Original post by mqb2766

You could probably put that tag line on most of what Boris does.

People
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/19/rebekah-vardys-agent-dropped-phone-in-sea-to-hide-evidence-trial-hears
are very careless their phones when there may (allegedly) be something incriminating on there.

Yeah looks like it, don't blame them for doing this despite it being wrong.

Reply 7

StriderHort

It must be great to be a crooked politician and only have to present evidence whenever you feel like it and to whomever you chose.

Reply 8

Admit-One

Hard to believe that after a lifetime of lying, Boris Johnson would also lie about this.

Reply 9

Cant really say either way.

Fwiw if he did change passcode when he moved phone and hasn’t used it in over 2 years I could accept he thinks he knows possible combinations but can’t be certain on the exact one as a genuine thing, although I can’t be sure.

For me this problem addresses a greater issue which is IF government ministers are going to communicate about operations via web messenger apps then they need to be provided with a secure & encrypted service using private secret service protected UK owned servers.

There should be an official policy that all discussions on whatsapp or other 3rd encrypted services are not allowed for government business.

It’s well known MPs have lots of whatsapp chats, maybe it’s time that if these chats are going to be observed in official enquiries then it should be a clear boundary between what is personal chat & what is government business & have appropriate tools for each one.

(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 10

Choreomania

9

As Johnson doesn’t even remember how many children he has, I’m prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

OP

Original post by Choreomania

As Johnson doesn’t even remember how many children he has, I’m prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

That's a good point, when you put it that way.

Reply 12

BarnabyK

15

I'd be that there's also no Face ID/Fingerprint code on the phone either - as unlike a passcode, he can be compelled to give these!

Reply 13

Original post by BarnabyK

I'd be that there's also no Face ID/Fingerprint code on the phone either - as unlike a passcode, he can be compelled to give these!

Its worth noting after it became public information that his phone details had been accessible online the phone was switched off. When you restart an iPhone you need to initially use your passcode before you can use finger/face ID. So this isn’t a consideration in the circumstances.

(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 14

Euapp

Original post by mnot

Its worth noting after it became public information that his phone details had been accessible online the phone was switched off. When you restart an iPhone you need to initially use your passcode before you can use finger/face ID. So this isn’t a consideration in the circumstances.

So to anyone who has sensitive information on their phones and the police come a knocking, remember to switch the thing off before you open the door.

(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 15

Original post by Euapp

So to anyone who has sensitive information on their phones and the police come a knocking, remember to switch the thing off before you open the door.

I know apple does have excellent encryption for privacy but id be surprised if they couldn’t find a back door. I suspect another thing is whatsapp itself encryption - i did wonder if they could clone the storage although I don’t know if whatsapp data would then be retrievable, it does seem a very low bar to stumble at for an enquiry focusing on the head of state with a budget nearing £100m.

Although I must admit i hold little confidence in the capabilities of anyone in whitehall or The commons.

Reply 16

Admit-One

Original post by mnot

I know apple does have excellent encryption for privacy but id be surprised if they couldn’t find a back door. I suspect another thing is whatsapp itself encryption - i did wonder if they could clone the storage although I don’t know if whatsapp data would then be retrievable, it does seem a very low bar to stumble at for an enquiry focusing on the head of state with a budget nearing £100m.

Although I must admit i hold little confidence in the capabilities of anyone in whitehall or The commons.

Wasn't there a case a few years ago where Apple steadfast refused to unlock a device for the FBI?

Reply 17

Euapp

Original post by mnot

I know apple does have excellent encryption for privacy but id be surprised if they couldn’t find a back door. I suspect another thing is whatsapp itself encryption - i did wonder if they could clone the storage although I don’t know if whatsapp data would then be retrievable, it does seem a very low bar to stumble at for an enquiry focusing on the head of state with a budget nearing £100m.

Although I must admit i hold little confidence in the capabilities of anyone in whitehall or The commons.

WhatsApp does have in its advanced settings irretrievable encryption if you don’t have the password.

OP

Original post by mnot

Its worth noting after it became public information that his phone details had been accessible online the phone was switched off. When you restart an iPhone you need to initially use your passcode before you can use finger/face ID. So this isn’t a consideration in the circumstances.

Pretty much the case on any device I think, once you restart it, you must type the passcode as opposed to using finger print or face ID (assuming that you've got a passcode in the first place).

(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 19