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Gov. Unlocked iPhone In NYC Drug Case without Apple

Apr 23, 2016, 8:18 AM by Eric M. Zeman

The Justice Department said it received help unlocking an iPhone involved in a drug case in New York City and has withdrawn its lawsuit against Apple. The government originally sought to compel Apple to unlock the device. In March, a magistrate judge sided with Apple and ruled the government can't force companies to hack their own products. The government initially appealed that decision. This week, however, the case took a turn. "[Thursday] evening, an individual provided the passcode to the iPhone at issue in this case," said the Justice Department in a letter sent to the presiding judge. "The government used that passcode by hand and gained access to the iPhone. Accordingly, the government no longer needs Apple's assistance to unlock the iPhone, and withdraws its application." Federal prosecutors didn't say who provided the passcode. The owner of the phone, who has already been convicted, claimed he didn't remember the phone's passcode. This is the second time the government was able to unlock an iPhone after initially saying it couldn't. The other, more prominent case involved the device owned by the suspects in the San Bernardino shooting. Apple declined to comment.

Wall Street Journal »

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This forum is closed.

thebriang

Apr 25, 2016, 1:01 PM

Well, if you cared so much, why didnt you know?

That they have helped governments and LEO agencies around the world unlock hundreds of iphones previously? It wasn't a secret, but you would have had to actually look to find it.

Do you also believe that two adults with pistols and assault rifles couldn't physically break a iphone 5C mainboard? Or that hundreds and hundreds of rounds fired into a tahoe Also missed the phone? At least that's plausible.

Apple could have helped them get into the phone all along without compromising all of iOS, and lots of people knew it, but for whatever reason they decided to make This their PR moment to get up on the cross and play the victim for "Our Rights".

Well news flash, apple doesn't care whatsoever about "Your Rights". They've helped govern...
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Zpike

While I agree with what you're saying (I don't think Apple is sincere either), we still have to take a stand with the Federal Government on our privacy. Whatever Apple's motives may have been, I agree 100% that no governing body has a right to force t...
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MarkW10011

Apr 23, 2016, 3:35 PM

Suing Apple

Apple should be sued in court for lying to the American People and the world. Apple has stated numerous times how secure and encrypted their "wonderful" phones are. THEY ARE OUTRIGHT LIARS AND USED THIS PLOY TO MARKET PHONES THAT ARE FULL OF INSECURE PROTECTIONS.
I believe all along Apple just wanted to sell more phones by making FALSE claims.

I cannot wait for someone convicted to sue Apple Inc for millions! They BLATANTLY Lied!

rafster

I am not an iPhone user and I actually don't like iPhones/iPads, but there is nothing in this world that is un-hackable. There is nothing that is 100% secure.

This is not a lie by apple. They were saying the truth when they said that their devi...
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