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Ask HN: Mario Draghi is always wearing an Apple Watch, is it safe?

5 points by giuliomagnifico ↗ HN
As you can see from dozens of pictures (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=mario+draghi+Apple+Watch&t=iphone&iax=images&ia=images) the Italian PM is always wearing an Apple Watch (series 7), but is this a safe conduct for a guy who is the PM of an important state and has held important positions (like the president of European Central Bank)? I already know that the answer is NO, but I wonder why he’s doing it anyway… to me looks weird, some photographer also spotted a group call on his Apple Watch (https://www.ilvaloreitaliano.it/la-telefonata-sullapple-watch-di-draghi-fa-piu-notizia-della-fiducia/). The privacy of this man should be over the top, and it’s not. I don’t know what to say, looks a not secure conduct, but maybe it’s just me…I’m searching for some opinions. Thanks!

13 comments

[ 3.8 ms ] story [ 48.1 ms ] thread
serf
I wouldn't tend to believe that any consumer electronics are absolutely safe when the adversary is the type to target state-level victims.
beardyw
No. But he is PM, who will overrule him? He probably finds it convenient for some reason and can't understand the problem. Or maybe the innards have been replaced.
frollo
When, in 2018, Matteo Salvini was minister and often didn't show up to his office, taking important calls from his mobile phone, the Italian Secret Service went pretty vocal (as much as a Secret Service can go vocal, anyway) against the practice for security reason. This time, we don't hear anything like that.

So either they decided that there's no hope in trying to secure the communications of Italian politicians, or they found out some way to secure the device to a degree they find satisfactory.

dangyopolitical
It is very concerning indeed, that could explain why many policies were leaked in the past, this lack of self awareness is weird, OR he just has no power and is just a communicant
frollo
Policy leaks are, in Italian politics, an extremely common thing. Sometimes (often) they come directly from the government itself, as a way to test public reactions before enforcing them.
daviddever23box
Any device can be compromised, and, not all communications require the same degree of security. Start with those first premises, then work backwards to determine which combinations are secure enough for the communications that will be carried over them.

"I already know that the answer is NO" may not be correct, for certain combinations.

kratom_sandwich
Is it really surprising? After all, Obama used is Blackberry for quite some time after he became president ("Obama: I'll Give You My BlackBerry When You Take It From My Cold Dead Hands") and The Verge says that "In 2014, The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House was testing Android phones for secure usage. Then this April, The New York Times said that some White House staffers were upgrading to iPhones."

https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/11/11910306/obama-upgrades-f...

paulcole
> I already know that the answer is NO

You don't know this and neither do I. Does Apple give heads of state special watches or special support?

giuliomagnifico
I have no idea but anyway he has a device that shows his calls/message/data/etc… on the wrist, visible to everyone. Not very safe, at least for the privacy.
epolanski
Anyone with the watch in sight can see his private calls or messages.

Even assuming it is secured, it is still not great for privacy.