FBI Delays Case Against Apple As They May Have A Way To Break Into The iPhone

This is a plot twist that I didn’t see coming.

The FBI has delayed its case against Apple less than a day before a scheduled court hearing  over its demands that Apple help unlock a terrorist’s iPhone. The motion that the FBI filed indicates that the FBI may have found a way onto the phone without Apple’s help:

“On Sunday, March 20, 2016, an outside party demonstrated to the FBI a possible method for unlocking [shooter Syed] Farook’s iPhone,”

And

“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.”

If that’s true, I am guessing that Apple has mixed feelings about this. On one hand, they’re likely breathing a sigh of relief as they wouldn’t need to worry about having to be forced to unlock the phone. But at the same time, they are likely worried that if the FBI has the means to break into iPhones at will, then they need to figure out how and make sure that they develop countermeasures against whatever that method is. Which means that this battle between them and the FBI may repeat itself.

Leave a Reply

Discover more from The IT Nerd

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading