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FBI Plans to Keep iPhone Hacking Method Secret [Update: Confirmed]

I can't help but think of this as 'the Boromir defence'...

w9cf2q.jpg


No, sorry 'Boromir', hacks and exploits must be destroyed in the fires of Apple HQ. Only there can they be unmade. They must be taken deep into Cupertino and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence they came.
 
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CarlJ said:
Those EU-style data protection laws are starting to make more sense. The FBI sees everyone else's privacy as an inconvenience. They fell all over themselves insisting this was all about "getting into just this one phone". They got into that one phone. So they should be happy to tell Apple what they know about the hack - I highly doubt the FBI met a guy in a coffee shop and said, "no, here, take this phone, no hurry, let us know someday if you get anything" - they watched carefully, they asked questions, they know some details. But they downplay the heck out of it to the administration, "no, absolutely nothing here to even make it worth asking around officially" - because everyone is worth investigating, except the investigators. The FBI cares more about their ability to spy on the public than they do about public safety.

Think about this: how many members of congress have an use iPhones? Sure would put FBI funding in a strong position if they had access to every congress member's secrets.
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Which version? o_O
  • EU French
  • EU German
  • EU British
  • EU Italian
  • EU Swiss
  • EU...
It's a game of "mine is better than yours" over there. :rolleyes:
 
American Hero said:
The American people pay taxes so the government can operate these types of organizations. If the American people want to know how certain actions were done, or why, they have a right to know.
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Not really.

While I agree with Apple's stance that they should not be required to make their hardware/software susceptible to outside attacks, I also don't believe the American public should be made aware of all of law enforcement's methods. There should always be oversight to make sure law enforcement is acting responsibly, but revealing everything to the public means revealing everything to bad people who would do us harm.

I don't want to know how the CIA infiltrates enemy governments and organizations. I don't want to know our military's game plan in fighting an enemy. I just want to know that there is a plan, that our guys are doing their job, and that duly elected representatives are aware of what's going on so they can speak up if someone is acting criminally.

Of course, this all assumes people do the right thing, but it's the best we can hope for in a democracy.
 
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Gix1k said:
Had Apple helped, they'd always know where the hole was and could do things to patch it. Now all they know is there's a hole in the ecosystem and no telling if it'll ever be revealed until there's another "fappening" times 10
You don't believe that....
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It won't work on newer devices.... per the FBI so yeah... he/she does believe that. You're crazy if you think apple should have helped the FBI....given them a skeleton key to get into any device. I fear them more than I fear any terrorist.
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MacDarcy said:
Apple will find that FBI backdoor and close it tighter than a frog's water tight ass.
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It won't work on newer devices so apple already has.
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SeattleMoose said:
What next...Cheney putting issuing an orange alert?
Our own government IS the terrorist.
The founding fathers are rolling over in their graves.
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exactly.... too many Merkans are clueless about that. They don't understand they need to worry more about their government than they do a terrorist.
hudson1 said:
Agree, the whole thing was mishandled and primarily by Apple. Coupled with a possible quarterly revenue decline for the first time in what seems like forever, this suspicion of Apple not knowing how the FBI cracked the phone is bad news in Cupertino.
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How is it bad news? It won't work on newer devices.... what part of that is confusing to those that think as you do?
 
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This post reminds me something about Space Marines in Warhammer 40k.
the open mind is like a fortress with gates unbadged unguarded.
Herecy grows from idol-less.
Cleanse, purge, kill.
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Hey, how about ruling citizens in that way? They only show loyalty to a single "emperor" and cleanse everyone who dare oppose him? Wait, you say what? There is already a country doing the same? Which one? North Korea? :rolleyes:
 
Gix1k said:
Had Apple helped, they'd always know where the hole was and could do things to patch it. Now all they know is there's a hole in the ecosystem and no telling if it'll ever be revealed until there's another "fappening" times .
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This is why I asked in a prior thread on the San Bernadino shooter case if Apple "won" when the FBI stopped proceedings.

Apple could have controlled the access point, now the FBI does and it isn't willing to share and everyone now knows Apple has an unpatched security flaw.

Even if phones or OS above a particular version are immune (or are they?) there are still many millions of phones out there where the hack is usable.
 
And there you go, the government agency sponsored by taxpayers just put many iPhone users at potential higher safety risk.

But American people doesn't care. They are more concerned about what Trump was yelling this week.

Good job voters. Can't wait for the next false flag so the need to put backdoor will be finalised and set in stone.
 
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The FBI is playing the same game as Apple here. Like or hate the government and their agencies, it seems fair in terms of value exchange. Maybe the FBI can get some of their (our) money back by making a deal with Apple (if they were even interested) by charging them to reveal the way in. I haven't even heard that Apple wants the information anyway....
 
jbernie said:
This is why I asked in a prior thread on the San Bernadino shooter case if Apple "won" when the FBI stopped proceedings.

Apple could have controlled the access point, now the FBI does and it isn't willing to share and everyone now knows Apple has an unpatched security flaw.

Even if phones or OS above a particular version are immune (or are they?) there are still many millions of phones out there where the hack is usable.
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No, they didn't win. Also, I don't know why people keep saying the newer devices aren't threatened by the hack the FBI has when no one knows what the FBI did to get in. According to Apple it wasn't possible on the device they had, which means there's a hole they don't know about. The same passcode block is in place on current phones, so it could be possible.
 
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Gix1k said:
You are making my point....had Apple helped the FBI with a backdoor (which they said didn't exist), Apple would be the holder of the keys. Instead Apple refused...FBI hired a hacker that found a backdoor that "didn't exist" and now Apple wants to know how. Rather than create the backdoor, give to FBI, change the locks and have FBI come at some point again....rinse and repeat. Either way, Apple would have been in control. Now the FBI is in control. Apple has no idea if this hack only works on the iOS that very phone has or if it's an exploit that works on all versions.
I agree with their stance, but it has since bit them to an extent.
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If Apple had helped the FBI with a backdoor they would have used the methods they were aware of and not this flaw that they are not aware of. The flaw would still exist and still be unknown to Apple. Apple not cooperating with the FBI did not create this flaw.

I think the FBI has stated that the method works on newer iOS versions but not newer phones. Unless the FBI is lying about that I think it is safe to say that Apple has an "idea if this hack only works on the iOS that very phone has or if it's an exploit that works on all versions."
 
Boston007 said:
latest
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lol....That about sums it up.

The flaw would be exposed eventually ya, but isn't the idea it be patched "as soon as possible"

The FBI once said "Apple was not co-operating with them" Now its now like "The FBI is not co-operating with Apple by giving any method that was used to get into the iPhone so they can patch it"

So, who's in the wrong now ? I think it's only fair that a government should have power "except" when its another company's phone they break into.

Knowledge of this hack could be got by the hacker, or at least the FBI could come clean with Apple and tell them "we cannot tell you, but we will give u the person responsible"

I think that is a right... that should be ok.. After all Apple makes the phone... This is saying "You have lost control over this"

That should never happen, even if its a government...
 
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bstpierre said:
If Apple had helped the FBI with a backdoor they would have used the methods they were aware of and not this flaw that they are not aware of. The flaw would still exist and still be unknown to Apple. Apple not cooperating with the FBI did not create this flaw.

I think the FBI has stated that the method works on newer iOS versions but not newer phones. Unless the FBI is lying about that I think it is safe to say that Apple has an "idea if this hack only works on the iOS that very phone has or if it's an exploit that works on all versions."
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The truth is we don't know. Apple may know about the flaw - but thought that the access to a solution outside of their organization would be unattainable, too costly or some other scenario.

The issue remains - which I also said in previous threads - that Apple could have had more control over the outcome. Now they are being frozen out. Which is political karma. I also will restate that I haven't heard anything about Apple caring or WANTING the breach explained. Or did I miss something?
 
rmatthewware said:
Not really.

While I agree with Apple's stance that they should not be required to make their hardware/software susceptible to outside attacks, I also don't believe the American public should be made aware of all of law enforcement's methods. There should always be oversight to make sure law enforcement is acting responsibly, but revealing everything to the public means revealing everything to bad people who would do us harm.

I don't want to know how the CIA infiltrates enemy governments and organizations. I don't want to know our military's game plan in fighting an enemy. I just want to know that there is a plan, that our guys are doing their job, and that duly elected representatives are aware of what's going on so they can speak up if someone is acting criminally.

Of course, this all assumes people do the right thing, but it's the best we can hope for in a democracy.
Click to expand...

It's a fine line between "Head in Sand Syndrome", "Faith", and "Factual Accountability". Personally I will take FA every time. The Washington environment has a "Dark Side" and most get suborned.
 
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