[aaronmhatch]

In the article, I explain two options in the Apple case:

1. Apple could develop new software and give the FBI the key. That is the true back door.

2. Apple could disable the guess limit and let the government brute-force the code. This is the "lesser" back door.

In most encryption cases around the world, the government can get in with enough computing power. They can brute-force as they see fit, which is a problem for all people who support encryption. These people essentially are in favor of a method of privacy protection that works only as well as the math used to support it. In this case, the math is only so dependable.

The other option is to depend on due process, checks and balances, and the branches of power. Government cracking encryption is inevitable, so sticking to absolute encryption and refusing compromise is a losing battle in the long run. We might as well start today on working out a compromise, developing and implementing a federal system that appropriately handles the privacy of our communications.