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DoJ Discovers 'Possible Method' for Unlocking iPhone, Asks Court to Delay Tuesday Hearing With Apple [Update: Postponed]
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The FBI did not want to lose, so they have backed down with transparent attempt to save face.
They should have went to third parties like this before filing the lawsuit
In all likelihood, they have been able to access the data already with some sort of unauthorized method. They wanted Apple to break in for future precedent and to allow the data to be used as legal evidence if there's a trial.
They severely underestimated the public backlash against the request, so they decided to shelve it for now.
They severely underestimated the public backlash against the request, so they decided to shelve it for now.
As confident as I am in Apple's security measures, there's a lot of talent out there. Some hacker is about to become untouchable to the FBI/DOJ. Lifelong get out of jail free card.
Back in 2008 we sold them the tech to do just what they're asking for. This was never about having the ability to (they already have the ability to crack the phone in question). It was about gaining more open access to get at that data without all the legal loop holes they need to go through currently.
That's what I'm thinking too. A face-saving 'out' so to speak, with the tide of public opinion changing as more people educate themselves about the chilling repercussions of what the FBI has proposed.
New Apple Nylon Watch Bands Hold Incredible iOS Hacking Features!
Just a sec. Imma go get my tin foil hat and put it on ...
There we go.
Ahem ...
Either that, or they're doing it as a publicity stunt to regain lost credibility after the whole "Apple ID password reset before trying to backup to iCloud" fiasco. Delay, say it's because they may have another way to unlock, sit on their asses for 2 weeks, and then come back and say, "nope, can't do it, but we really, really tried, see? We aren't the bad guys here, really. GovtOS, pretty please?"
By "Discovers" they mean "known about all along". They were just trying to set a precedent to force tech companies to comply going forward. The good thing was he had an iPhone and it was Apple up first on the legal block. Who knows what would have happened if it was some other tech company, or a smaller one without the power to fight on this level. The police state might have been ushered in faster than we all could blink.
I believe this is a case of, in the vernacular, "The FBI blinked".
If you're trying to set precedent and know you're going to lose, better to walk away from the fight. (Though it makes you look like a bunch of idiots. Seriously, an "outside party" figured it out, when you couldn't just go to the NSA, who people have all but said explicitly could crack this particular phone? Sure.)
If you're trying to set precedent and know you're going to lose, better to walk away from the fight. (Though it makes you look like a bunch of idiots. Seriously, an "outside party" figured it out, when you couldn't just go to the NSA, who people have all but said explicitly could crack this particular phone? Sure.)
Two days later: We messed up, we can't figure it out. Can you help us again Apple?
Wait. They did this today ? AFTER 9.3 came out ?
Something DOES smell fishy but it might not be the DOJ. It could be Apple did it.
Just tossing that out there.
Something DOES smell fishy but it might not be the DOJ. It could be Apple did it.
Just tossing that out there.
I really doubt that. I expect that they will get a national security letter issued so they can pressure Apple without Apple having the public support. Yes they lost in public so they'll go back to trying to hide everything. Hopefully, we have a few more Snowden's around.
Oh it was always about the precedent, I think the FBI has just been told by a better bunch of lawyers than the ones in-house that they will LOOSE : Precedent set
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Yeah they can, hardware made by Apple USA, software supplied and licensed by Apple international, Bermuda.
They could also have drilled a hole into the phone expecting for the info to leak out.
That's how clueless they are.
If I were Apple I would keep on pressing to be done with it.
No way should the FBI win.
That was a great link. The link in that article to the video with Chris Tarkovsky was also very interesting.
So McAfee got trough to them or did somebody else suggest something similar?
I don't even own an iPhone or plan to get one, but I'm still paying attention to this as it could affect what devices I might be getting in the future.
I don't even own an iPhone or plan to get one, but I'm still paying attention to this as it could affect what devices I might be getting in the future.
Guess they didn't want a precedent established against them.
They'll wait for a stronger case to fight this battle.
It was never about this one iPhone. They probably discovered nothing relevant on the phone and now they're trying to save face.
They'll wait for a stronger case to fight this battle.
It was never about this one iPhone. They probably discovered nothing relevant on the phone and now they're trying to save face.