Skip to main content

Apple’s security trumps Microsoft and Twitter’s, say feds

Apple has long held a reputation for rock-solid security, and now the U.S. government seemingly agrees after praising the company for its security procedures. At the same time, the feds have suggested Microsoft and Twitter need to pull their socks up and make their products much more secure for their users, according to CNBC.

In a speech given at Carnegie Mellon University, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly pointed to Apple as a company that took security and accountability seriously, and suggested other companies should take note.

Apple's Craig Federighi speaking about macOS security at WWDC 2022.
Apple

Easterly gave the example of Apple’s iCloud security practices, which enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) by default. As a result, 95% of iCloud users have MFA switched on, greatly improving security.

Multi-factor authentication means a unique code is sent to a separate device from the one that is attempting to log in, which can help to thwart hackers who may have gained access to a single device. Easterly said the high rate of iCloud MFA adoption was due to Apple’s proactive approach of “taking ownership for the security outcomes of their users.”

In contrast, Easterly said that companies like Microsoft and Twitter had much lower rates of MFA adoption (only 3% of users in Twitter’s case) and that this was “disappointing.”

‘Radical transparency’

Window's new Microsoft Security Experts program works to protect users from cybercrime using.
Windows

Microsoft and Twitter received praise for at least disclosing how many of their users had MFA enabled, even if it didn’t look great for the companies involved. “By providing radical transparency around MFA adoption, these organizations are helping shine a light on the necessity of security by default,” Easterly explained. “More should follow their lead.”

That said, Twitter has just hidden SMS security authentication behind its Twitter Blue paywall, which could be seen as a backward step when it comes to making your Twitter account more secure. You can still enable Twitter MFA using a third-party authenticator app, though, which is more secure than SMS authentication anyway.

Aside from that, Easterly touched on the idea of new legislation, which should “prevent technology manufacturers from disclaiming liability by contract,” she said. Its goals should also include “establishing higher standards of care for software in specific critical infrastructure entities, and driving the development of a safe harbor framework to shield from liability companies that securely develop and maintain their software products and services.”

Apple’s security prowess doesn’t just come from its enabling MFA by default. Apps are sandboxed so they can’t access critical parts of the operating system, while Apple chips contain a secure enclave to handle sensitive data. It looks like those protections and more convinced the U.S. government that Apple was worth singling out for praise.

Editors' Recommendations

Alex Blake
In ancient times, people like Alex would have been shunned for their nerdy ways and strange opinions on cheese. Today, he…
Best color laser printers for 2024: tested and reviewed
A Brother printer on a counter in front of a brick wall.

The best color laser printers can be a great investment, saving you quite a bit of time and money. For shoppers worried about the long-term ink costs, you'll find color laser printers surprisingly affordable. Laser printers use toner, which lasts a very long time, delivering a low cost per page for monochrome documents and fast color prints. The best color laser printers offer quick performance and reliability to help keep your home office or small business productive.

If you need to scan documents for record-keeping and photo capture or want the convenience of a color copier, an all-in-one color laser printer is an essential tool for your small business or personal use. For a small added cost, you get expanded capabilities. That's why every model on this list is an all-in-one from the best printer brands.

Read more
The 5 best Wi-Fi adapters for PC in 2024
The Ugreen AC1300 Wi-Fi adapter in a desktop PC.

Whether you're designing it yourself or getting a pre-built PC, it can be easy to get a computer and realize that it doesn't have a native Wi-Fi adapter. Or, maybe it does, but you're internet speeds are getting faster, game downloads are getting bigger, you've already upgraded your router and need an adapter to match your newfound power requirements. No matter the situation, an external Wi-Fi adapter that you can add to your PC setup or even laptop setup will be worth your time. Here, we investigate the best Wi-Fi adapters for PC use. Most are incredibly affordable and just snap into a free USB port and start working.
The best Wi-Fi adapter for PC in 2024

Buy the

Read more
How to pin a website to the taskbar in Windows
A man sits, using a laptop running the Windows 11 operating system.

Windows includes many interesting tools, but if you’re like many people, more and more of your digital life is happening in your web browser and nowhere else. That being the case, you’ll want to keep your most important websites close at hand. The easiest way to access them in Windows is the Start menu and the taskbar, treating them more or less like programs in and of themselves.

Although easy overall, getting a website from your browser to your taskbar is slightly different depending on which browser you’re using.

Read more