Apple addressing security concerns.

[Weelok]

This is fascinating and the use of a graphics processor is a novel idea, if not a bit scary as they are so powerful. With regards to six digits being 10^7 -1 how is it calculated? This will be boring to most but I find it educational.

I admit to guessing on the 10^6 as I was just thinking 6 positions at 10 digits each but I am assuming it's some sort of combinatorial sequence? It's been a literal 30 years since my statistics and probability class and I can't say I really got it even then.

[markem]

Originally Posted by Weelok

This is fascinating and the use of a graphics processor is a novel idea, if not a bit scary as they are so powerful. With regards to six digits being 10^7 -1 how is it calculated? This will be boring to most but I find it educational.

I admit to guessing on the 10^6 as I was just thinking 6 positions at 10 digits each but I am assuming it's some sort of combinatorial sequence? It's been a literal 30 years since my statistics and probability class and I can't say I really got it even then.

Your insights are very close and almost exactly correct.

There are 10^6 passwords of length 6
10^5 of length 5, etc.

Add them together and you get 10^7 - 1

[Weelok]

Originally Posted by markem

Your insights are very close and almost exactly correct.

There are 10^6 passwords of length 6
10^5 of length 5, etc.

Add them together and you get 10^7 - 1

Ahhhh, that makes sense. I'm uncertain what Apple allows in the way of digits but I think your forced to either 4 or 6 digits. My iPhone 6s and mini 4 are basically the same and I think it's 6 digits only or Touch ID. I say think because I don't see any other options but that means little. Earlier Apple products I recollect were 4 or 6 digit pass codes so yes, more digits and combinations hah.

People are dieing while we talk math but we can talk tobacco Beatles and mold anytime.

So I guess back to topic, the issue now becomes not encryption as that's a ***** to crack but not erasing the data on failed pass code attempts. This is kind of a clever approach the FBI is taking as they are letting Apple encrypt but the pass code is so much easier to break all they want is a simple feature disabled? This is where privacy gets confused as technology and law are never at the same point in time.