https://therecord.media/fbi-document-shows-what-data-can-be-obtained-from-encrypted-messaging-apps/ * [matomo] [ ] [go] [PrimaryLog] * Leadership * Cybercrime * Nation-state * Government * People * Technology * About * Contact * [ ] [go] Subscribe to The Record [ ] [go] Subscribe FBI document shows what data can be obtained from encrypted messaging apps Catalin Cimpanu November 30, 2021 FBI document shows what data can be obtained from encrypted messaging apps Government News Privacy Technology * * * * * Catalin Cimpanu November 30, 2021 * Government * News * Privacy * Technology * * * * * FBI document shows what data can be obtained from encrypted messaging apps A recently discovered FBI training document shows that US law enforcement can gain limited access to the content of encrypted messages from secure messaging services like iMessage, Line, and WhatsApp, but not to messages sent via Signal, Telegram, Threema, Viber, WeChat, or Wickr. The document, obtained earlier this month following a FOIA request filed by Property of the People, a US nonprofit dedicated to government transparency, appears to contain training advice for what kind of data agents can obtain from the operators of encrypted messaging services and the legal processes they have to go through. Dated to January 7, 2021, the document doesn't include any new information but does a good job at providing an up-to-date summary of what type of information the FBI can currently obtain from each of the listed services. As Forbes reporter Thomas Brewster said on Twitter earlier this week, past news reports have already exposed that the FBI has legal levers at its disposal to obtain various types of personal information even from secure messaging providers that often boast about providing increased privacy to their users. While the document confirms that the FBI can't gain access to encrypted messages sent through some services, the other type of information they can glean from providers might still help authorities in other aspects of their investigations. The content of the document, which may be hard to read due to some font rendering issues, is also available in the table below. App Legal process & additional details *Message content limited. *Subpoena: can render basic subscriber information. *18 USC SS2703(d): can render 25 days of iMessage lookups and from a target number. Apple *Pen Register: no capability. iMessage *Search Warrant: can render backups of a target device; if target uses iCloud backup, the encryption keys should also be provided with content return can also acquire iMessages from iCloud returns if target has enabled Messages in iCloud. *Message content limited. *Suspect's and/or victim's registered information (profile image, display name, email address, phone number, LINE ID, date of registration, etc.) Line *Information on usage. *Maximum of seven days worth of specified users' text chats (Only when E2EE has not been elected and applied and only when receiving an effective warrant; however, video, picture, files, location, phone call audio and other such data will not be disclosed). *No message content. Signal *Date and time a user registered. *Last date of a user's connectivity to the service. *No message content. *No contact information provided for law enforcement to Telegram pursue a court order. As per Telegram's privacy statement, for confirmed terrorist investigations, Telegram may disclose IP and phone number to relevant authorities. *No message content. *Hash of phone number and email address, if provided by user. Threema *Push Token, if push service is used. *Public Key *Date (no time) of Threema ID creation. Date (no time) of last login. *No message content. *Provides account (i.e. phone number)) registration data and Viber IP address at time of creation. *Message history: time, date, source number, and destination number. *No message content. *Accepts account preservation letters and subpoenas, but WeChat cannot provide records for accounts created in China. *For non-China accounts, they can provide basic information (name, phone number, email, IP address), which is retained for as long as the account is active. *Message content limited. *Subpoena: can render basic subscriber records. *Court order: Subpoena return as well as information like blocked users. *Search warrant: Provides address book contacts and WhatsApp WhatsApp users who have the target in their address book contacts. *Pen register: Sent every 15 minutes, provides source and destination for each message. *If target is using an iPhone and iCloud backups enabled, iCloud returns may contain WhatsApp data, to include message content. *No message content. *Date and time account created. *Type of device(s) app installed on. *Date of last use. *Number of messages. *Number of external IDs (email addresses and phone numbers) Wickr connected to the account, bot not to plaintext external IDs themselves. *Avatar image. *Limited records of recent changes to account setting such as adding or suspending a device (does not include message content or routing and delivery information). *Wickr version number. Of note, the table above does not include details about Keybase, a recent end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) service that has been gaining in popularity. The service was acquired by video conferencing software maker Zoom in May 2020. * * * * * Tags * E2EE * encryption * FBI * FOIA * iMessage * privacy * secure messaging * Signal * Telegram * US government * WhatsApp Catalin Cimpanu is a cybersecurity reporter for The Record. He previously worked at ZDNet and Bleeping Computer, where he became a well-known name in the industry for his constant scoops on new vulnerabilities, cyberattacks, and law enforcement actions against hackers. Previous article Next article Member of group connected to multi-million-dollar cryptocurrency theft sentenced HP patches wormable bug impacting more than 150 multi-functional printers Briefs * Privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo saw record growth in 2021 December 28, 2021 * Japan and US expected to boost cooperation on ransomware threats December 27, 2021 * Five Eyes issue joint advisory for defending against Log4Shell December 22, 2021 * RSA Conference postponed to June December 22, 2021 * Dark web marketplace ToRReZ shuts down December 22, 2021 * 'Hack DHS' bug bounty expanded to include Log4j flaw December 21, 2021 * Why Wall Street is worried about state and local government cybersecurity December 21, 2021 * Ubisoft discloses security breach impacting Just Dance gamer data December 20, 2021 Ransomware tracker: the latest figures [December 2021] [2021_1209-Victim-Data-Released-on-Ransomware-Extortion-Sites-1-1024x607] Ransomware tracker: the latest figures [December 2021] [PrimaryLog] * * * * * About Us * Privacy Policy (c) Copyright 2021 | The Record by Recorded Future