Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

DoJ Discovers 'Possible Method' for Unlocking iPhone, Asks Court to Delay Tuesday Hearing With Apple [Update: Postponed]

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,227
39,035



The United States Justice Department today asked the court overseeing its ongoing iPhone unlocking battle with Apple to postpone a hearing scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 22, reports Politico. The DoJ says new leads have been discovered that could provide it with a way to unlock the iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook without involving Apple.

iphone5c-header-800x658.jpg
"On Sunday, March 20, 2016, an outside party demonstrated to the FBI a possible method for unlocking [terrorist Syed] Farook's iPhone," federal prosecutors said in a filing Monday afternoon. "Testing is required to determine whether it is a viable method that will not compromise data on Farook's iPhone. If the method is viable, it should eliminate the need for the assistance from Apple Inc. ("Apple") set forth in the All Writs Act Order in this case."

"Accordingly, to provide time for testing the method, the government hereby requests that the hearing set for March 22, 2016 be vacated," government lawyers wrote.
Click to expand...
The government has asked that the hearing be postponed for two weeks, instead taking place on Tuesday, April 5. The additional time will be used to determine whether or not the unspecified method can be used to break into the iPhone 5c in question. Sheri Pym, the judge presiding over the case, has not yet given word on whether or not the government's request will be granted.

Over the last several weeks, Apple and the United States government have been embroiled in a heated public battle over encryption and personal privacy that started when a court ordered Apple to help the FBI unlock the iPhone 5c of terrorist Syed Farook. Unlocking the iPhone would require Apple to build a new version of iOS that bypasses iPhone passcode restrictions and provides the FBI with a way to enter passcodes electronically, something Apple has staunchly refused to do.

Update: The judge has agreed to vacate the hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 22, and has requested that the government provide an update by April 5. The motion requiring Apple to help the FBI lock the iPhone has been suspended.

Update 2: In a conference call with reporters, Apple said it would insist on obtaining details about the exploit the FBI plans to use should the government keep the case going. If the case is dropped, Apple will not be able to ask for that information.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: DoJ Discovers 'Possible Method' for Unlocking iPhone, Asks Court to Delay Tuesday Hearing With Apple [Update: Postponed]
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/03/21/doj-postpones-trial-with-apple/
  • Like
Reactions: OttawaGuy and ChromeAce
  • Like
Reactions: FriendlyMackle, stu.h and thisisnotmyname
Good.
Now Obama can start launching drones at the perps on that stupid phone
before we start having Paris sized Islamic atrocities that will make
San Bernardino look like a slow news day.
Winning.

f27adb4e2c8e5c9ff18a7c2ef9cd17150ecd4722.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Candlelight and mixxula
Looks like someone didn't get the support of the court of public opinion like they were expecting. Let's face it, they used a terrorist attack to try and scare people into giving up their security. They pulled it after 9/11 with the Patriot Act. They wanted to do it again, but it wasn't quite as easy this time and they didn't get the support they wanted. They know they'll lose tomorrow so now "suddenly" in the eleventh hour the FBI is claiming they don't need Apple. They never did, but they wanted a master key from the more secure of the two main Mobile Operating systems
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Keane16, St.John Smith, RGF and 29 others
Great, nobody wants to protect the iPhone in question, but rather just protect our privacy as a whole. If the DoJ thinks they can crack it without having to involve Apple that's exactly how justice should work. And it also give Apple time to "double down" for the rest of us!
 
  • Like
Reactions: OttawaGuy, sshambles, Wondercow and 3 others
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back