I certainly can not. I am a chemistry Ph.D., no software or hardware engineer. However, my Ph.D. training in science did teach me one thing: critical thinking. When people say "playing fire is dangerous", they don't have to burn down a house to show you that "playing fire is dangerous". BTW, Microsoft also claimed that there is no backdoor in BitLocker. I don't believe that either. I believe time will tell, that Apple has a way to get access to any iPhone either via software or hardware backdoor, despite the device being encrypted.
Of course the iPhone has a backdoor. The FBI is demanding that Apple use that backdoor to install and run new firmware while the device is locked. The ability of such new firmware to bypass/disable the Erase Data feature and weaken passcode brute forcing protection is also being called a backdoor. Both of these backdoors (or vulnerabilities or whatever you choose to call them, name doesn't matter) already exist, and Apple itself has confirmed that they exist by communicating that they can comply with the FBI's request.
Apple destroys government claim that it’s using encryption debate as a marketing tool http://bgr.com/2016/03/16/iphone-hacking-apple-fbi-mobile-encryption-marketing/
"Engineers and programmers told The New York Times on Thursday they will give up their jobs if the government forces Apple to undermine encryption on its devices. “If the government tries to compel testimony or action from these engineers, good luck with that,” a former Apple engineering manager told the newspaper. Window Snyder, a former Apple senior product manager, said if the government “attempts to force them to work on something that’s outside their personal values, they can expect to find a position that’s a better fit somewhere else.” http://www.prisonplanet.com/engineers-threaten-to-quit-if-fbi-forces-govt-os-on-apple.html
Think about the resources of the government. They have a way in even if it wasnt generated through secret court order. All it takes is an Apple Engineer that is working for or who is being blackmailed by the NSA. When you have budgets in the billions this is child play.
It's like Edward ******* & Brayden .... never existed to the foolish foolish iSheep & head in the sand Ostrich types. Which is is 99%+ of the public. Pretend it's not happening & it's not happening. Whoopee!
You're probably correct, but there is a difference between what is likely and what we actually know. I see a lot of speculation passing for fact in this discussion - not just in this thread, but everywhere.
@Victek - some of this also comes about because the authorities and TLAs deliberately spread FUD and misinformation - as they have since time immemorial. For obvious reasons, they do not want their adversaries to know what their actual capabilities are. The problem with this approach is that if you've effectively included your own population as an adversary, there is very good motivation for them to distrust what is said and assume the worst. Which will accelerate the time when a decent level of security is available.
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/thre...ems-for-user-data-secret-files-reveal.348308/ The information has been out there for a while, it just takes an open mind to accept the truth.
No, no, no, no! Didn't happen. Checked my imessages on my ifruit. Ok time to put my head back in the sand. Ah all better now.
"FBI Cancels Encryption Showdown With Apple After "3rd Party"[May Have] Showed Them How To Unlock iPhone Following a mysterious "third party"'s willingness to show The FBI how to unlock San Bernardino killer Farook's iPhone, court records indicate that the US government wishes to cancel tomorrow's showdown with Apple, filing a motion to vacate the hearing..." From Justice Department's Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of "Motion to Vacate the Hearing Order": “...On Sunday, March 20, 2016, an outside party demonstrated to the FBI a possible method for unlocking Farook’s iPhone...” http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-...after-3rd-party-showed-them-how-unlock-iphone The court granted the motion after The Justice Department discussed the matter with Apple, who chose not to contest it. The Justice Department will file a "status report" by April 5th. Full Official Copy Of Justice Department's Motion: http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2773536-Motion-To-Vacate-Hearing.html
Dunno. Not sure that Apple could maintain its brand security image by secretly directly or indirectly helping the FBI and thereby possibly showing to its millions of customers that its current "hack-proof" iPhone security is not secure. But this being a terrorism/national security case, there are a multiude of ways to use leads from the phone without ever having to disclose how the Govt arrived at those leads. Like the DEA's curent illegal practice of providing unlawfully approved or not approved federal wiretap data to local police to catch a crook and the police building a phony parrallel data trail to present in court. But I'd bet dollars to donuts it's not Apple who is the mysterious third party. Cook would have to resign and he would lose the respect of his employees. There is no way It could be kept a secret in-house. Is John McAfee still wanted for questioning in Belize? Maybe he wants additional security from arrest and extradition in exchange for scratching the FBI's back. New Poll: The mysterious hacker is: 1) Apple 2) John McCafee 3) Samsung 4) The Lone Ranger 5) Elvis Presley 6) The FBI [has decided to back down,save face,wait for a stronger opportunity for a showdown, and deny by fear the evil-doers Apple iPhones as a secure means of communications-the FBI has too much to lose by risking a public loss in this case, e.g., "Ok All Terrorists Use Apple iPhiones as your sole means of communications and we will never be able to find and convict you and you will be safe."]
The FBI just played Apple fantastically. Apple used the whole FBI case as a marketing exercise on how secure they were. The FBI just said now they have a way to get around their security and invalidate Apple's marketing message. Just to be clear, the FBI always had a way around the security they just now publically admitted it.
LOL, no, it's not game over yet. Wait and see. Days later, there will be follow-up reports that the so called "third party" are actually some whistle-blower from inside of Apple. This way, Apple maintained it's image, while still complied with the government. Tim Cook as a businessman is not stupid. He knows the consequences of defying government and/or court order that would most likely be directed to Apple eventually.
This could be a ploy by FBI Director Comey to screw Tim Cook's Pooch while saving his legal powder for a stronger case. Inside the Beltway, Comey is known to be absolutely furious at Cook's failure to cooperate. If any of you recall the notorious, midnight incident involving a critically ill Attoney General Ashcroft, and White House Cousel Gonzoles,in Ashcroft's hospital room to try to obtain Ashcroft's signature on a document extending illegal wiretapping by the Bush Administration that Comey, then Deputy Attorney General, had refused to sign, you will know that Comey is a man of high integrity and principal and an excellent lawyer. While remaining furious with Cook, Comey may have concluded that this is not the best case to push the issue, for at least the fact that the passcode to the phone was changed while in FBI custody, thereby eliminmating one possible way the data on the phone could have been retrieved without the need for Apple to build a backdoor. Apple has argued changing the Apple ID of the iPhone after the government took possession meant the FBI could have had access to the data it’s seeking and if that had not been done previously proposed solutions that Apple had offerred to the FBI may have eliminated the need for building the “backdoor” the FBI is after. In addition The FBI may have concluded through other means that these two killers had acted totally independantly of orders,direction,or assistance of any group. So Comey now could save his powder for a stronger case by asking The Justice Department to request a Voluntarily Dismissal of the entire proceeding. This would lead the world to believe that The FBI, had indeed found a way to hack the phone, leaving Tim Cook's security brand with mud on his/it's face and denying the use by mass murderers and serial killers, aka "terrorists" of what had been believed to be secure iPhones as a method of communication. ~ Removed off Topic Remarks ~ [NB:Typically in a US District Court proceeding a request for a Voluntary Dismissal, after the opposing party has filed a response can only be granted under terms agreed to by the defendant or if the Judge, for reasons of his own agrees, over objection of the Defendants. This being a national security/terrorism case I have no doubt that the judge could find justification for granting the dimissal without the need of The FBI to disclose any information to Apple.]
@hawki, what would we do without you? Thanks for explaining all the legal twists. The Voluntary Dismissal would be the most unexpected outcome. A third rail.
Well, when you have too much free time on your hands and are wearing your new tin foil thinking cap, its amazing what keyboard keys your fingers move to. Someone should lock my keyboard. But in this case it could be a Master Stroke by The FBI. FBI Director Comey would probably lose his job because he would never be able to stop laughing. It would be the legal equivalent of throwing a cream pie in Tim Cook's face.
Interesting report from NPR "Fresh Air" "From Reagan's Cyber Plan To Apple Vs. FBI" http://www.npr.org/sections/alltech...an-to-apple-vs-fbi-everything-is-up-for-grabs
Israel's Cellebrite, a provider of mobile forensic software, is helping the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's attempt to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino, California shooters, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Wednesday. If Cellebrite succeeds, then the FBI will no longer need the help of Apple Inc (AAPL.O), the Israeli daily said, citing unnamed industry sources. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-encryption-cellebrite-idUSKCN0WP17J
