Posted on 03/24/2016 1:37:14 PM PDT by dennisw
Israel's Cellebrite, a provider of mobile forensic software, is helping the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's attempt to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino, California shooters, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Wednesday.
If Cellebrite succeeds, then the FBI will no longer need the help of Apple Inc (AAPL.O), the Israeli daily said, citing unnamed industry sources.
Cellebrite officials declined to comment on the matter.
Apple is engaged in a legal battle with the U.S. Justice Department over a judge's order that it write new software to disable passcode protection on the iPhone used by the shooter.
The two sides were set to face off in court on Tuesday, but on Monday a federal judge agreed to the government's request to postpone the hearing after U.S. prosecutors said a "third party" had presented a possible method for opening an encrypted iPhone.
The development could bring an abrupt end to the high-stakes legal showdown which has become a lightning rod for a broader debate on data privacy in the United States.
Cellebrite, a subsidiary of Japan's Sun Corp (6736.T), has its revenue split between two businesses: a forensics system used by law enforcement, military and intelligence that retrieves data hidden inside mobile devices and technology for mobile retailers.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
http://hotair.com/archives/2016/03/23/fbi-to-apple-well-crack-the-terrorists-iphone-without-you/
The case until now has rested on whether the FBI and DoJ could force Apple to write software to defeat its own systems, even for a one-off event. Apple argued at the time that it wasn’t just a one-off kind of request, and that writing the software would damage its brand. That would still be true if the FBI gets Cellebrite to do it, but at least it doesn’t have the same legal baggage of forced production. That still seems unlikely to “end the high-stakes legal showdown.”
In fact, it might have the opposite effect. If the government can decrypt iPhones without Apple’s cooperation, that might let Apple off the hook with its consumers in the short run. However, it might also undermine Apple’s business case that its systems are hacker resistant, even if its management remains undaunted. It also puts the government in position of essentially funding and endorsing commercial hackers to Apple’s detriment. If anyone thinks Apple will let that slip by their lawyers, think again. That will also create an impulse to further harden the encryption, and we’ll eventually be back around to the same issue.
Apple might have a more difficult time with its “principled stance” because of Brussels than Cellebrite. Bloomberg’s tech panel discusses the FBI’s strategy, and the way in which terror attacks might erode Apple’s insistence that its own security transcends that of the US, and USA Today follows up as well:
Guess what company apple will not allow to sell things in their apple downloads?
Good. And when the crack it I hope they post the code on the internet and ping it to swordmakers list. And let Apple spend their last dime fighting in court.+
Here’s how much the FBI is paying Cellebrite for its iPhone hack—— $15,278
http://news.yahoo.com/much-fbi-paying-cellebrite-iphone-hack-191122870.html
In any event, it’s only natural to wonder how much the FBI is shelling out for an iPhone hack that will let them access the data tucked away in a locked iPhone. While you might assume that such information is a well-kept secret, the FBI, being a federal agency and all, can’t keep everything it does hidden away.
Originally spotted by Twitter user Zen Albatross, the FBI this past Monday signed a $15,278 contract with Cellebrite.
Diving deeper, the contract appears to be for work set to be conducted in Chicago, a tidbit which has led some to believe that the screenshot below is for other forensics work. Still it seems like a crazy coincidence that the FBI would sign a contract with Cellebrite for wholly unrelated technical work just one day after it revealed it may have found a way, without Apple’s help, into the terrorist’s locked iPhone. Also
It’s also worth noting that Cellebrite’s website specifically mentions that they possess the “unique capability” to unlock iOS devices running iOS 8.x “in a forensically sound manner and without any hardware intervention or risk of device wipe.” Interestingly, the company hasn’t mentioned if their methods work on iOS 9, which was what Syed Farook had installed on his iPhone 5c.
BDS strikes again. Oh, wait...
But, they can’t prevent them GIVING things away, and once inside..the game is over.
True but i think if you dont buy it through the apple store and it is not certified by apple to run on their o/s, most people will not be able to get it,,or get it working.
Poor elitist condescending Apple-defending freeper azzholes....
Really SAM? A company that has the computers and talent to hack any system, cannot write code compatible with Apple, and cannot make a free app or program that would work?
I must have misunderstood you, surely that is not what you meant.
I could have told you this long ago
There are many companies that could do this with that one phone
The FBI wanted to make it so they could un-encrypt ANY phone
Please don’t call fellow FR members names.
If you don’t like Apple, TELL Apple.
I understood him to mean that if an app is not offered through Apple, people would have to allow their phones to download and install apps from untrusted sources in order to get the app, and most people would not do so, or may not know how to do that. My2¢ worth.
That is a reasonable assumption. I would only add, that if an app or program would benefit the end user, and add something that enhances capability, or some other desirable aspect, that many users, if they are aware of it, and receive positive reviews by credible apple reviewers, would go for it...my 2 cents as well...grin.
Generallly third,party apps will not run on an apple product unless they have an apple certificate that certifies they are trusted and approved by apple to not be malicious.
Not saying they cant make tge app, i am saying apple has ways to prevent them selling it or allowing it to insfall.
I have no problem with Apple, just with a couple elitist condescending freepers who have gone out of their way to personally slam me and claim to haughtily know that what’s being reported in this article cannot or should not be done.
Wrong. The FBI is only after data on the subject device, namely the San Bernadino terrorists' phone. They have consent from the owner of the phone (the county) and a lawful warrant. Furthermore, Apple (according to their terms of service) is the lawful owner of the operating system on the phone which is the target of the warrant.
Here's the court motion on the matter:
http://www.wired.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SB-shooter-MOTION-seeking-asst-iPhone.pdf
On page 4 of the court document is says that Apple has the ability to modify the code for the one specific target device to disable the auto-erase function so the FBI can use their tools to try all the passcode combinations without risking the erasure of data.
My understanding is that this may work because the 5c doesn’t have the Secure Enclave feature that Apple puts in later phones. The newer models likely wouldn’t be crackable in this manner.
Seriously?
Once The FBI forced them to write the code to allow them to do this by software, do you think it would have NOT used that same software on any other phone?
The company in Israel is probably going to do a hardware level hack. This is possible ONLY on a device.
You could say they CAN decrypt any device now, since this company in Israel says they can do it- but they are not creating a tool that can be used on any other phone.
P.S. I am an embedded systems software engineer FOR A LIVING
I know what I am talking about
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.