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Apple has been served a court order requesting that it break security on the smartphone previously owned by the deceased gunman behind the San Bernardino attacks last year. Apple however is thought likely to contest the order, which comes at a time when debates are raging around encryption and the government felt ‘need' for backdoors into smart device security protections.
The reason for the court order is that the FBI believes the individual's phone contains crucial information about the man and his wife, who was complicit in the attack. However since 2014 Apple has offered by default, end to end encryption on its iPhones, making reading what is on the devices rather difficult if you don't have that user's password..
Despite these complications however, the FBI wants Apple to alter the phone's software so that the authorities can make unlimited attempts to crack the password – the default is ten, before the device wipes itself. It also wants Apple to make it possible to rapidly try different passcodes – suggesting it is hoping to automate the process in a brute force attempt at guessing the password (as per BBC).
Source: Wikimedia
Although Apple hasn't released a public statement about the order, it is thought likely to resist it. Although complying with the FBI on this might seem like a simple matter, weakening the security of its devices in any manner would suggest to nefarious individuals that that could be done to innocent devices, be it by Apple or themselves.
Once a precedent has been set too, there's no telling what other devices the FBI or other policing organisations might bring to Apple with demands for special treatment. If users don't trust that Apple won't resist such orders, they may be less interested in buying Apple products in the future too.
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KitGuru Says: While it seems like the FBI is trying to avoid a head on discussion about smartphone security by asking for help, rather than an outright crack, considering the way politicians are gunning for encryption backdoors, if any tech company gives ground right now, it has the potential to have huge ramifications.
Only good thing apple has ever done….
Apple has been involved with a lot of good things actually. I may not agree with their business practices but they have given a lot (yes, given) to the world of technology over the years.
hmm. Im on the fbi’s side this time. They want clear access to ONE murderer’s phone content. I say they let them have it.
this isnt the point tho.. if apple can just alter the phone bypassing the encryption, this means the iphones protection is fake.. its a huge deal. if the software on the phone is legit, there should be NO way to bypass the password.. even if you are apple.
Someone didn’t read the article did they!
If Apple agrees, then it just proves their phones are crackable. It would be terrible PR. This is the company that built its empire on the myth that “Macs can’t get viruses”…
Public perception is a powerful source of income. Apple will fight this warrant as long as it can and look like a hero of privacy while doing so. Heck, some people might go buy an iPhone now because this warrant shows that the FBI couldn’t get in themselves.
You mean put a spin on existing products, call it innovative, buy up all the patents and sue for anything?
When was the last time an iPhone had the most advanced specs on the market? Maybe next year they’ll announce an innovative waterproof feature!
everything is crackable, to believe otherwise is stupid. if apple wants to do the right thing they’ll do what the fbi asks entirely in house and just hand the data over to the feds, no reason to guide the fbi through cracking it.
they’ll innovate in another brand new port so you’ve got to buy more of their ****.
Seems like no one can read today…
This a business move for Apple, it wins them good PR and protects their products, which keeps investors happy. Apple has nothing to gain, but everything to lose, if they play along with the FBI.
Iphone protection *is* fake though. What do you think? Apple has access to those encryption keys you use to log in, because otherwise, they wouldnt be able to check if your encryption key is correct and allow you to access your stuff. Sure they may be hashed, but that doesnt change the fact that if Apple wanted access to your stuff, they could probably easily get it.
what do you mean that apples are crackable… Now I dont actually own an Iphone, but Ive heard about it and about the fcat that your files and folders are backed up on apples’a very own cloud drive. This has nothing to d with your actual phone and apple has clear and easy access to its own servers. getting these files seems easy to me.
And if you’re talking about locally stored normal phone PINs or passwords, Im pretty sure most if not all manufacturers have backdoors that allow them access for when you forget your pins/passwords.
someone lacks critical thinking skills i think…
yes, because the US government wont make it hard for apple if they don’t help.
Lol, the most influential (and popular) tech company in the world and the US gov will do what? Kick them out? Which I don’t think they legally could anyway.
That would quickly p*** off millions of American customers, kill thousands of jobs and straight up dent the economy. The politicians in Congress would be sweating like a sinner in church at that idea.
It’s not like there would be ton’s of other countries happy to accept Apple’s new HQ on their soil.
Critical thinking is seeing all the parts of the puzzle. Apple has nothing to gain by damaging their own products, but instead wins global public favor by fighting. Sure everything is crackable ONLY IF you get unlimited attempts, which is exactly why the FBI is going down this route! In a way that proves the iPhone is a pretty secure device!
didn’t realize apple was its own country, with the ability to control the tax laws and trade within its boarders. or that it held major control over patent laws.
you seem to think that apple is anything more then a company. the US government could make it harder and harder for them to turn a profit in the country, which would hurt their bottom line and piss off their investors far more then helping the FBI break into a terrorist’s phone.
Except that Apple, a global company, would take the battle to the courts over “compensation for the loss of expected future profits due to government actions”… in case you didn’t know this is possible, do some readings on the Trans-Pacific Partnership that the US helped draft and sign.
Go on… I’ll wait for your reply.