WASHINGTON: Apple said Wednesday it was strengthening encryption on its iPhones to thwart police efforts to unlock handsets without legitimate authorization.
The move by Apple, the latest in an ongoing clash with law enforcement, comes amid reports of growing use of a tool known as GrayKey which can enable police to bypass iPhone security features.
Apple said the new features are not designed to frustrate law enforcement but prevent any bypassing of encryption by good or bad actors.
“At Apple, we put the customer at the center of everything we design,” the company said in a statement.
“We’re constantly strengthening the security protections in every Apple product to help customers defend against hackers, identity thieves and intrusions into their personal data. We have the greatest respect for law enforcement, and we don’t design our security improvements to frustrate their efforts to do their jobs.”
Apple said it was working a fix to mitigate the possibility of accessing data from GrayKey or similar tools.
Apple said that it has a team that responds to law enforcement and national security requests 24 hours a day. But the company has been a target of some in law enforcement for rejecting efforts to allow easy access to iPhones.
Two years ago, Apple went to court to block an FBI effort to force it to weaken iPhone encryption on the device of a mass shooter in San Bernardino, California, but officials dropped the case after finding a tool to unlock the phone.
Apple steps up encryption to thwart police cracking of iPhones
Apple steps up encryption to thwart police cracking of iPhones
Saudia adds 20 flights to Red Sea for Eid Al-Fitr holiday
RIYADH: Saudia has added 20 flights connecting Riyadh and Jeddah with the Red Sea Destination during Eid Al-Fitr holiday, increasing total operations on the routes to 44.
The expanded service comes through collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority and Red Sea Global as part of ongoing efforts to promote premier tourism destinations across the Kingdom.
According to a press release, the initiative aims to establish the destination as a world-class luxury tourism hub.
The Red Sea Destination is an ambitious luxury tourism project on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, developed by the Public Investment Fund’s Red Sea Global as part of Vision 2030.
Upon full completion in 2030, the regenerative tourism site will feature 50 resorts with 8,000 hotel rooms and over 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland locations, all powered entirely by renewable energy.
The press release states that passengers flying to and from the Red Sea will experience “Saudia’s integrated guest experience, including advanced AI-powered digital services for personalized travel planning, streamlined airport procedures, and an onboard experience reflecting Saudi hospitality alongside a wide range of entertainment for guests of all ages.”
The partnership represents a long-term strategic collaboration between Saudia and the Saudi Tourism Authority to strengthen tourism initiatives through expanded flight connectivity, increased seat capacity, and distinctive travel experiences that reflect the Kingdom’s cultural character.
These efforts support Saudi Arabia’s national tourism goal of attracting 150 million visitors by 2030, the statement noted.
Saudia’s expanding fleet continues to drive growth across its global network, which currently serves more than 100 destinations across four continents, including all 26 domestic airports in Saudi Arabia.
The airline plans to introduce additional international routes as part of its strategy to connect the world with the Kingdom. This expansion will be supported by the delivery of 116 new aircraft, joining the existing fleet of 149 planes.
The airline is a member of the International Air Transport Association, the Arab Air Carriers Organization, and has been part of the SkyTeam alliance since 2012.
