The Department of Justice has removed all legal action against Apple after the FBI successfully hacked the San Bernardino terrorist’s iPhone without assistance from Cupertino.
Apple and the FBI have been fighting a very public legal battle over whether the government can force the iPhone-maker to create a backdoor into iOS. Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly defied a federal court order to deliberately weaken iOS security for millions of users, but it appears that the feds are backing down — at least for now.
A federal law enforcement official confirmed to USA Today that the third-party method discovered last Monday by the FBI has proven successful. The DOJ is expected to withdraw its case against Apple as soon as today.
Apple has argued that the government’s efforts to force it to break iOS goes against the company’s First and Fifth Amendment rights. Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell appeared before the House Judiciary Committee earlier this year in a hearing that also included FBI Director James Comey. Although the FBI has insisted the federal order was only about one particular iPhone, Apple has warned against the precedent it would set.
The FBI enlisted the help of Israeli tech security firm Cellebrite to get into San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook’s iPhone. The bureau signed a $15,000 contract with the company for assistance in unlocking the iPhone. The company’s method allowed investigators to crack the iPhone’s security without auto-erasing the contents on the device.
While having the case cancelled is a small victory for the smartphone maker, Apple will likely face more requests to unlock iPhones in criminal cases. The FBI’s ability to unlock the device also proves Apple’s encryption and security isn’t as completely locked down as it would hope.
Apple hosted a keynote for the iPhone SE and iPad Pro last week, but the event focused just as much on the company’s stances on privacy, security and the environment as it did on new products. In a recent interview, the Cook insisted Apple will keep fighting the good fight against the government to protect citizens.
“At the end of the day, we’re going to fight the good fight not only for our customers but for the country,” said Cook. “We’re in this bizarre position where we’re defending the civil liberties of the country against the government.”
Update: The Department of Justice has officially filed (.pdf) to have the case withdrawn:
“The government has now successfully accessed the data stored on Farook’s iPhone and therefore no longer requires the assistance from Apple Inc. mandated by Court’s Order Compelling Apple Inc. to Assist Agents in Search dated February 16, 2016.
Accordingly, the government hereby requests that the Order Compelling Apple Inc. to Assist Agents in Search dated February 16, 2016 be vacated.”
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
14 responses to “FBI cracks San Bernardino iPhone without Apple’s help”
…..soooo…. did they find somethin’???
Nothing to find. Farook had 2 phones (Personal and work). In the hours he went missing after shooting he actually bothered to destroy his personal phone, but didn’t feel the need to destroy his work (gov’t) issued iPhone. I wouldn’t be surprised if the FBI is claiming to have hacked it to save face from looking like idiots.Even if the Israeli firm the FBI hired managed to get in the phone, there is little chance that we will ever see anything of importance
AND THE SURVEY SAYS!?
Anyone else think they are just bullshitting and SAYING they cracked it? Any data that was potentially useful on that phone was burned 3 months ago when it was revealed the FBI had it. Any real data was likely in the burner phones that were destroyed. I call BS till I see irrefutable evidence of info that was on that phone.
I seriously doubt there was anything on this phone. This was a work-issued phone. Chances are his employer had software on it that tracks the employee’s usage. He would have known that and most likely not put anything sensitive on it.
All that drama for nothing. I’m not sure they accessed the terrorists iPhone. Where is the proof? Anyone believe this I got city for sale
Is it Detroit? :-)
No it’s my city Budapest (free shipping included) lol
Good dealif Free P&P *thumb up*
Sounds like that black man in a White house gave sb a call….
Haha….face saving PR stunt.
Why would apple want to protect the security of terrorist? As far as I am concerned protecting terrorists makes you a terrorist also… Apple should be ashamed of themselves and what if the identity of the 9/11 terrorist were locked into an I-phone, would apple have protected them!? Apple should be boycotted by the people for their indifference to the safety of all citizens!
So, federal law enforcement is outsourcing their IT to an international source? Amazing.
Sorry I know that this is not in the topic but were D can I find that wallpaper ?