FBI Requests Apple bypass the security of iOS to unlock iPhone used by San Bernardino shooters.

Apple is currently in a standoff with the FBI regarding an iPhone that was used by one of the perpetrators of the San Bernardino shootings last year.

The FBI is requesting Apple create a version of iOS, the operating system that runs on iPhones and iPads, that would allow them to unlock the iPhone recovered during the course of the investigation to gain access to the data, photos and files within it.

Tim Cook has been adamant that doing this would undermine the security that Apple has been striving for in their operating system for the last 9 years. The FBI is requesting that Apple endanger the privacy of every iPhone user in the world.

iOS by its very nature and design is a highly secure operating system that makes it virtually impossible to access the information on an iPhone or iPad without the passcode. iOS encrypts the data on the iPhone so that it cannot be recovered by normal means without introducing the passcode.

More so, introducing wrong passcodes will disable the iPhone after several attempts for a period of time. After which you can then attempt to enter a passcode again. Subsequent failed attempts increase the amount of time one needs to wait between attempts.

The FBI is requesting Apple create a version of iOS where this would not happen and they can brute force (try passcodes continuously, without stopping) the passcode entry until they find the correct one.

This event will undoubtedly set a precedent for IT legislature in the future.

Tim Cooks letter to Apple Customers: http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/

iOS May 1970 Date Issue.

Public Service Announcement

It seems recently, a practical joke or attempt at humor has been circulating in social media where by an unsuspecting user is asked to set the date on their iPhone or iPad or iPod Touch back to May 1970 and in so doing the iPhone will obtain a general look and feel of the iOS 6 and below. A retro look if you will. This unfortunately is not the case, and many users have been left with non functional iPhones.

The iPhone will not respond to touch or any of the customary steps including resetting or restoring the i Device to factory condition.

Why this happens is still a bit of a mystery. January 1st 1970, is the moment in time where the Unix Epoch begins. The Unix Epoch is a mechanism that all computers and devices in the world use to handle time and dates. There is no clear reason yet why setting the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to this particular date causes them to stop working.

Apple has now made a statement acknowledging this issue, and has stated that it will release an update in the future that will stop the issue from occurring. However it will not fix iPhones already having the problem since while they are in this unresponsive state, there is nothing that can be done to them, so no way to actually apply any update that Apple may release.

Solutions

For now the only solution seems to put the device in DFU mode and restoring the device to factory condition. This however has been hit and miss. Several people report success while several others report failure. Additional info has come to light with this, and it seems if the Restore appears to be stalled at the apple logo and progress bar screen, that it should be left for one to several hours and it will complete. This allows the internal clock to move to a date past January 1st 1970 that the iPhone can work with and completes the restore.

Apple Support - Put Your Device in Recovery Mode.

You can restore it yourself using Apple's instructions in the link provided below, or take it to an Apple Store and have them do it. They will likely do so for free, but make sure to make an appointment before heading out, as Apple Stores are bound to be a little crowded.

Genius Bar Appointment

Restoring the iPhone of course means it will be completely wiped, so if you do not have a backup to restore from, be prepared to loose your info.

Here is Apple's support document acknowledging the issue, and stating an update is in the works: If you changed the date to May 1970 or earlier and can’t restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

This blog post will be updated when such an update is made available, so stay tuned.