Apple Unlocked iPhones for the Feds 70 Times Before

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/17/apple-unlocked-iphones-for-the-feds-70-times-before.html ^

[TigerClaws]

A 2015 court case shows that the tech giant has been willing to play ball with the government before—and is only stopping now because it might ‘tarnish the Apple brand.’

Apple CEO Tim Cook declared on Wednesday that his company wouldn’t comply with a government search warrant to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino killers, a significant escalation in a long-running debate between technology companies and the government over access to people’s electronically-stored private information.

But in a similar case in New York last year, Apple acknowledged that it could extract such data if it wanted to. And according to prosecutors in that case, Apple has unlocked phones for authorities at least 70 times since 2008. (Apple doesn’t dispute this figure.)

In other words, Apple’s stance in the San Bernardino case may not be quite the principled defense that Cook claims it is. In fact, it may have as much to do with public relations as it does with warding off what Cook called “an unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers.”

[Mark17]

But isn’t Apple saying it simply does not have the means to do so? If that’s the case, then the fedjudge has ordered apple to manufacture something that would get them that data.

Maybe they could just say, ok, we can build that, but it make take us 30 years to do it. This is not Enigma or JN25.
While I wish the Feds could find out what they need to know, about the San Bernardino terrorists, I agree with the other poster. Don't let the POSs in the country to begin with. That female should not have been here.
I think the government already knows more about us than we would like them to. There is a fine line here. When has the government ever needed something, that they could not turn around and bite us in the behind with? Yes, I want terrorism destroyed, but how long will it be, before they use it against us patriots?

[DiogenesLamp]

After Edward Snowden, people wanted more security for their phones, and Apple delivered.

I can understand that. But in this case Apple can comply, they just don't want to do so.

[CA Conservative]

Did you read the article? Apple cannot unlock the phone or decrypt the data. What the FBI is asking Apple to do is to code a special version of the operating system that will allow them to try to brute-force the pin without it erasing the phone.

Now the tool they are asking Apple to create would completely undermine the security of their product. Even if they tried to restrict it to the single phone in this case, once the tool was created, reverse-engineering it to create a tool that would work on any iPhone would be possible. (And we are to trust that the government would not do such a thing, and would make sure the tool never leaked into the public domain - sure!!!)

What is questionable to me is whether it is legal to force a company to create a new version of the a product for law enforcement purposes. They are not asking for access to a backdoor that is already built into the product, or for a tool already in use by Apple - they are trying to force Apple to create a new way to allow them to crack the pin. As far as I know, slavery is still illegal - you cannot force someone to create a new product.

[DiogenesLamp]

So, in this case, the phone belongs to a third party - government, no less. I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to see what's in it. If only all public "servants" were held to the same standard...

One could even say that Apple was refusing to cooperate in the return of stolen property, meaning the information contained on that phone before the terrorist stole it. :)

That is, one could say this if one wanted to be a legal technicality hair-splitting Son of a B*tch.

[CA Conservative]

No,they cannot. They would have to create a completely new tool to do that. It may be technically possible to create the tool, but don't just take the word of one blogger to accept that it can be done. But it is not as if Apple currently has the ability to crack the phone - the FBI is asking them to CREATE the ability to do so.

[precisionshootist]

Well that's it then, Apple won't cooperate. I guess the investigation is over, there's no way to catch any more terrorists. Without access to the contents of this iphone there is simply no way to find out anything about this crime. /s

I find it odd that we have judges that feel the courts have the power to order Apple to CREATE a backdoor to get into someone elses property but would never consider an order to search and monitor the mosques where all these subhumans foment their evil.

[dadfly]

bookmark

[McGruff]

Wow. This is HUGE. Apple defending terrorists.

[DiogenesLamp]

Did you read the article? Apple cannot unlock the phone or decrypt the data. What the FBI is asking Apple to do is to code a special version of the operating system that will allow them to try to brute-force the pin without it erasing the phone.

I did read the article. Apple can disable the delay and erasure features. That will likely accomplish the intended result.

Now the tool they are asking Apple to create would completely undermine the security of their product. Even if they tried to restrict it to the single phone in this case, once the tool was created, reverse-engineering it to create a tool that would work on any iPhone would be possible.

Now I can ask you if *YOU* read the article.

Again in plain English, the FBI wants Apple to create a special version of iOS that only works on the one iPhone they have recovered. This customized version of iOS (*ahem* FBiOS) will ignore passcode entry delays, will not erase the device after any number of incorrect attempts, and will allow the FBI to hook up an external device to facilitate guessing the passcode. The FBI will send Apple the recovered iPhone so that this customized version of iOS never physically leaves the Apple campus.

As far as I know, slavery is still illegal - you cannot force someone to create a new product.

If you can force Christians to bake Faggot cakes, then you can force Faggot ran companies to make their cracks available when the government wants to penetrate their software.

Don't try that slavery crap on me. I am way past the point of being sick of all the slavery I already get imposed on me by the government. I think Socialist supporting people and companies need as much "slavery" imposed on them as it takes for them to wake the F*** up and stop supporting socialist candidates as our rulers.

No Doubt Apple inc is supporting Bernie the Commie this year.

[DiogenesLamp]

No,they cannot. They would have to create a completely new tool to do that.

Probably a relatively minor firm ware revision. One of their coders could probably do it in a couple of hours.

[CurlyDave]

IF Apple were to have to do this, who would pay for it?

If ti takes an army of 1000 programmers working for several years to do this, that is going to be expensive. Plus, taking this people away from their usual jobs is going to hurt Apple.

Maybe the issue is that enough money has not yet been offered...

[dfwgator]

Maybe if the government had actually done its’ frickin’ job and kept the terrorists out of the country, they wouldn’t have to come begging to Apple.

[antceecee]

Like shutting out govt snooping.

[Drago]

FBI/govt. has to reimburse Apple for any work done...
bottom of “All Writs Act” court order here:

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2714001-SB-Shooter-Order-Compelling-Apple-Asst-iPhone.html

Hopefully no work will be needed.

[antceecee]

Many think this is like discovery on someone’s phone bill....not the same. People keep personal banking, payment and other Fifth amendment right info on smart phones and computers. Just because the storage system has changed, does not mean the rights of citizens is lessened. The Feds are stretching for more power to spy and contol you. Obama admin is persuing this, therefore I do not trust at all. Cannot understand those here that do support giving this Admin more power over the people...trolls maybe...disallusioned...or early dementia?

[Stanwood_Dave]

"70 times before!"

That was THEN, This is NOW!

I'll try a shot at a "CLIFF NOTES" answer.

Prior Apple I-Phones, apple was able to do this (get into a phone & Contents.)

The model the court(s) is asking Apple to get / give access to the FBI, or what ever 3 Lettered Agency. Has two problems as from what I heard explained today via the radio, via Rush.

PROBLEM No.#:1, Access to the general I-Phone it self, via the "TIME LOCK(s,)" something like you get four or five tries, then the first of many (TIME LOCK(s)) kicks in, I believe something like three or four minutes, and escalates from each "UNSUCCESSFUL Attempt" there after.

PROBLEM No.#:2, Access to the "CONTENT'S," after your able to "OPEN" the I-PHONE, then your going to need the "Encryption KEY(s)."

"Encryption KEY No.#:1," i.e., or think I-Phone No.#:1, the sender, of a message.

"Encryption KEY No.#:2," i.e.,or think I-Phone No.#:2, the receiver, of a message.

Yes Rush said a Person working for Law Enforcement could write the "CODE" so that the I-Phone would not use the "Time LOCK(s)," but if Apple won't "SIGN" the code, the phone will just lock itself, by default for "SECURITY."

Hope this helps out.

[Swordmaker]

Apple Unlocked iPhones for the Feds 70 Times Before. . . since 2008. Of course, these were earlier model iPhones and the cases were different, and Apple did have the means to do what was asked when these earlier cases were presented. They were also cases where an active prosecution was pending, not a fishing expedition over a dead Terrorist's iPhone where the case is essentially dead. -- PING!

Apple Security and Privacy
Ping!

The latest Apple/Mac/iOS Pings can be found by searching Keyword "ApplePingList" on FreeRepublic's Search.

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me

[Swordmaker]

What is Apple worried about? That the government will keep the encryption key?

No, not the encryption key, because Apple doesn't have it and won't have it. Apple doesn't want the government to have any means to unlock all iPhones, which is what they are after.

[Swordmaker]

Whoa. If this is the same type of phone, this puts an entirely new spin on it, doesn't it? :)

Don't worry, it's not. It was easy for Apple to unlock earlier iPhones from 2008 through the iPhone 4s running iOS 6 and under.

[Swordmaker]

I’m no computer tech/software developer, but can’t they write another encryption program and update every iPhone but that one?

If they've already done this before, there’s no good reason for them to not get the FBI into the murderers’ phones now.

No. This is about the millions of this model of iPhone already in the wild. It would put every single one of them at risk. This is NOT about the encryption, it's about the timing out of passcodes that prevent crooks from breaking into iPhones to use brute force dictionary attacks. It is the BASIC security level the judge wants them to get around, not the encryption. That's the strange thing. The encryption will STILL be there. . . and that would take years to decipher.