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Wednesday, February 17, 2016

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/

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