FBI Has Found 'Nothing of Real Significance' Inside the San Bernardino iPhone Yet

[MacRumors]

Although the method of the FBI's entry into the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone has been the source of many rumors, a new report from CBS News states that at this point in the process, "nothing of real significance" has been discovered within the device.

After weeks of back-and-forth between Apple and the FBI, over the possible moral repercussions that a "GovtOS" would have on iPhone users' privacy, the Justice Department officially dropped its lawsuit against Apple in late March.

In the court-filed motion to vacate the order for Apple's help, the FBI stated it had discovered its own process of entry into the password-protected iPhone. Rumors initially suggested the FBI was helped by Israeli mobile forensics firm Cellebrite, but more recent reports pointed to the bureau's hiring of professional hackers to help crack the smartphone.

Much of the discussion surrounding the case has centered around the method the FBI used to unlock the iPhone 5c in question, but a report from yesterday confirmed that the bureau has no legal ground to reveal the exploit to anyone, including Apple. The unidentified group assisting the FBI has sole legal ownership of the method in which it used to enter the device, which could not be divulged without their cooperation with the FBI.

A few sources within the government even stated that the FBI might not know the details of the exploit, only that it has worked. According to the new report from CBS News, those close to the investigation have stressed that the FBI is continuing to analyze the data coming out of the iPhone 5c in the search for information related to the December terrorist attacks.

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: FBI Has Found 'Nothing of Real Significance' Inside the San Bernardino iPhone Yet

 

[sputnikv]

obviously. they destroyed the ones that did have evidence on them

 

[CouponPages]

I don't know why anyone would expect otherwise. 99% of the useful information about a cell phone is in the phone records, which they can simply get from the mobile carrier, even without having possession of the phone.

 

[0007776]

It was their work phone and they destroyed their other phones but not this one. Anyone with half a brain could have said that.

 

[DoctorTech]

The only thing that surprises me in this story is that they are admitting they haven't found anything. I never expected them to find anything useful on the phone or else this phone would have been destroyed like the others.

 

[captain cadet]

Knew it! They destroyed their own phones as why would you plan a terror attack on a work phone when your not 100% on what the Admin team could view!

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Colour me flabbergasted.

 

[JM]

Colour me flabbergasted.

How appropriate during a 5c conversation.

 

[soupcan]

Surprise surprise.

 

[JM]

Apple is feeling blue that the White Hats hacked the 5c. Now the Gov is tickled pink, Apple is green with envy, and it was all yellow.

 

[teslo]

"Wow, these terrorists were complete idiots, regardless of how they were rogue and unaffiliated, they stored the database of every ISIL member's locations and personal details in Apple Notes! We won the Terror! We won all the Terror!!"
- No one

 

[keysofanxiety]

Stop the presses.

 

[pika2000]

The information was not the objective to begin with. The objective was to spur the idea of anti-encryption regulations. Governments of countries outside the US, where they can exert more control on their regulations and people, are starting to put in motion the idea of enforced backdoors.

As for the FBI, not only they can use more taxpayers' money in hiring some contractors (who knows which pocket that money is actually going), they are probably already spending more in "research" and overtime for this bogus case.

In the end, taxpayers lose. Good job voters.

All FBI needs to do is just do another false flag.

 

[JM]

"Wow, these terrorists were complete idiots, regardless of how they were rogue and unaffiliated, they stored the database of every ISIL member's locations and personal details in Apple Notes! We won the Terror! We won all the Terror!!"
- No one

America definitely has won

The information was not the objective to begin with. The objective was to spur the idea of anti-encryption regulations. Governments of countries outside the US, where they can exert more control on their regulations and people, are starting to put in motion the idea of enforced backdoors.

As for the FBI, not only they can use more taxpayers' money in hiring some contractors (who knows which pocket that money is actually going), they are probably already spending more in "research" and overtime for this bogus case.

In the end, taxpayers lose. Good job voters.

All FBI needs to do is just do another false flag.

We all did cause this, didn't we

 

[Crosscreek]

FBI gives me the feeling of technical incompetence with little oversight.

 

[dan110]

Imagine that. We actually didn't have to give up our freedoms in the name of the "War On Terror". Who would've thought?

 

[djcerla]

... And the Dormant Cyber Pathogen, finally unleashed, lurks over mankind.

 

[jonnyb098]

Well aren't we all just SHOCKED!?!?!??!!?

 

[whooleytoo]

"Wow, these terrorists were complete idiots, regardless of how they were rogue and unaffiliated, they stored the database of every ISIL member's locations and personal details in Apple Notes! We won the Terror! We won all the Terror!!"
- No one

I, for one, trust the FBI implicitly. It would be a sad day when we couldn't trust the people trying to make our devices and communications inherently less secure.

If they say they found nothing, then they found.... sorry, can't keep a straight face any more..

 

[H2SO4]

The only thing that surprises me in this story is that they are admitting they haven't found anything. I never expected them to find anything useful on the phone or else this phone would have been destroyed like the others.

The only thing that surprises me is that people will take that as read. Maybe they’re just not letting on?

 

[elmateo487]

I don't know why anyone would expect otherwise. 99% of the useful information about a cell phone is in the phone records, which they can simply get from the mobile carrier, even without having possession of the phone.

What? What about the hundreds of apps that people can chat on...... Or pictures with people of significance. Or what if the Find My IPhone feature was turned on, and every location they had been to was logged. Do I need to keep going? Do those things fall into that 1%?

You really think they would call up al-Baghdadi? Or maybe text him? Hey! Got anymore ideas on how we are going to kill these people?

 

[maelstromr]

I hope this teaches the pro-law enforcement crowd a little something. All of that arguing over the FBI's (false) claim that they couldn't get into the phone without forcing Apple to open a door, all of that willingness to give up privacy and freedom from government oversight, amounted (predictably) to zilch.

1) don't trust law enforcement when they make big claims requiring technical competence/understanding and 2) maybe apply some more critical thinking to what the government is really asking for/needs.

 

[richwoodrocket]

This does not surprise me at all.
i wonder how much money they've blown so far on this stupid phone.

 

[ZMacintosh]

no really, what were they going to find on a phone? it was all just a way to try and gain access to a phone and set the precedence as initially predicted and stated.

 

[Tech198]

so the FBI just did all this to say they can crack a phone ?.

Yes ok,,, i can do the same thing with a a nut-cracker. and a nut.. Now, wasn't that good. Wait, you missed it? Let me show that again..