Yeah, an OS update CONTAINING a backdoor.
What was your point?
As I understand it, FedGov want to force Apple to create a new IOS that can be installed on a locked phone that will defeat the security feature that blanks a phone out after so many failed passcode attempts. Since most phones are encrypted using a 4-digit passcode, with the security feature bypassed, repeated attempts starting at 0000 and ending at 9999 will become the work of hours. Even 16-digit encryption is doable.
The big problem is that once Apple provides the bypass IOS, every time some law enforcement agency wants into a phone they’ll simply ask a court to order Apple to provide them with the bypass code. Already they are talking about “organized crime”, “child porn”, and lots of other crimes that a phone might have info about. They have been wanting this power for some time and this case is a perfect one to try to force the issue.
If they are successful, we Americans will have a bit less freedom and a bit less privacy, which appears to me to be a growing trend.
Technically they aren’t asking for a backdoor, they are asking for an OS update to be loaded onto this phone. Either way bad juju for personal liberty.
Yeah, an OS update CONTAINING a backdoor.
What was your point?
Well, technically still not a backdoor in the conventional sense.
The new OS will allow the FBI to disable the time delay and erase the phone after 10 tried feature. Then they will still try to hack the password the old fashion way.
And depending on the phone model, the OS model, and whether or not the shooters used a 16 digit passcode AND/OR alphanumeric digits, it still could be impossible timewise, i.e. over 6000 years with a 16 digit numeric passcode.
But of course they could hit it on the very first try.