"copies and relays nearly all the data stored on an iOS device, even when Backup Encryption is enabled. It is separate from iOS' documented backup and sync features."
turns out to be a fully documented component of iOS 7.1.0.32's Apple Mobile Device Support and is needed for synchronization between an iPod or iPhone and iTunes. Oh, it's been in earlier versions of iOS, too.
His second sentence in that quote is just ignorance, as this is an library file called when needed from the iOS library sync functions by the BackupAgent and SyncAgent system, but is essentially a system function, not a "feature" the user or developer ever needs to call.
Not knowing what "com.apple.mobile.file_relay," does shows me "Jonathan Zdziarski, an iOS forensic examiner," does not "know more about iPhones than any other non-Apple employee." I doubt he's even paid to be an Apple iOS developer.
From what my cursory investigation uncovered, it apparently is used to communicate with various versions of iTunes as needed to DO the synchronization of backing up the iPhone and would have to be able to do that regardless of the encrypted status of the data on the iPhone. It needs to do exactly what he describes it doing: copy everything on the iPhone to another device, that has his underware wadded.
This is akin to someone finding CUPS on a Mac, UNIX, or Linux system and claiming it has no legitimate function, and it can't be related to PRINT and because they don't know what they're looking at, it must be nefariously intended. (CUPS = Common Unix Printing System)
Apparently, many of the others he's upset about appear to be precursors to implementing Apple's newest iOS 8 device-sharing-over-WIFI functions such as "Instant Hotspot," iPhone linked calling on iPad and Mac, and the "Handoff" document and project cross device neutrality. Oh my! These "hidden, undocumented "apps" link the iOS device to another known and identifiable Mac or iOS device and share data across a wired or WIFI network, exactly what Apple is intending they do. Horrors!
Without these Apple only software devices, those new functions would be impossible. I suspect the guy simply does not know what he's looking at. He knows just enough to be dangerous. . . in spreading FUD before tomorrow's financial call.
Apple iOS Not much here to see Security Ping!
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