14 DAY TRIAL // The FBI has just announced that it managed to hack the iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino attackers without Apple’s help, confirming that it wants the case against the Cupertino-based company to be dropped.
No details on how exactly the feds managed to break into the iPhone have been provided, but rumor has it that an Israeli firm was interested in helping the FBI do it as Apple opposed the idea of developing custom software that could help break the protection system of the device.
Apple likely to patch security bug
In a statement today, the FBI says that no Apple assistance was needed for the hacking of the iPhone but warns that similar cases will continue to be pursued in the future should the prosecutors need help to access information stored on phones belonging to criminals or terrorists.
“It remains a priority for the government to ensure that law enforcement can obtain crucial digital information to protect national security and public safety, either with cooperation from relevant parties, or through the court system when cooperation fails,” Melanie Newman, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department, was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
“We will continue to pursue all available options for this mission, including seeking the cooperation of manufacturers and relying upon the creativity of both the public and private sectors.”
The FBI doesn’t want to disclose the method used for breaking into the iPhone either to the media or Apple, so Cupertino is very likely to look into every single security bug that might be exploited and patch them all with future updates. The company is believed to be working on a hacker-proof iPhone that would help it avoid similar legal cases in the future.
While the San Bernardino case has finally come to an end, Apple’s also involved in another case against the FBI, this time regarding a drug investigation in Brooklyn. Apple is also required to unlock an iPhone used by one of the criminals under investigation in this case, but just like in the San Bernardino saga, the company refuses to do so.
Update: Apple has just issued an official response, explaining that it will continue improving the security of its devices despite this case.