Although the method of the FBI's entry into the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone has been the source of many rumors, a new report from CBS News states that at this point in the process, "nothing of real significance" has been discovered within the device.

After weeks of back-and-forth between Apple and the FBI, over the possible moral repercussions that a "GovtOS" would have on iPhone users' privacy, the Justice Department officially dropped its lawsuit against Apple in late March.

iphone5c
In the court-filed motion to vacate the order for Apple's help, the FBI stated it had discovered its own process of entry into the password-protected iPhone. Rumors initially suggested the FBI was helped by Israeli mobile forensics firm Cellebrite, but more recent reports pointed to the bureau's hiring of professional hackers to help crack the smartphone.

Much of the discussion surrounding the case has centered around the method the FBI used to unlock the iPhone 5c in question, but a report from yesterday confirmed that the bureau has no legal ground to reveal the exploit to anyone, including Apple. The unidentified group assisting the FBI has sole legal ownership of the method in which it used to enter the device, which could not be divulged without their cooperation with the FBI.

A few sources within the government even stated that the FBI might not know the details of the exploit, only that it has worked. According to the new report from CBS News, those close to the investigation have stressed that the FBI is continuing to analyze the data coming out of the iPhone 5c in the search for information related to the December terrorist attacks.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Top Rated Comments

DoctorTech Avatar
113 months ago
The only thing that surprises me in this story is that they are admitting they haven't found anything. I never expected them to find anything useful on the phone or else this phone would have been destroyed like the others.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djcerla Avatar
113 months ago
... And the Dormant Cyber Pathogen, finally unleashed, lurks over mankind.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
teslo Avatar
113 months ago
"Wow, these terrorists were complete idiots, regardless of how they were rogue and unaffiliated, they stored the database of every ISIL member's locations and personal details in Apple Notes! We won the Terror! We won all the Terror!!"
- No one
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dan110 Avatar
113 months ago
Imagine that. We actually didn't have to give up our freedoms in the name of the "War On Terror". Who would've thought?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bigsk8r Avatar
113 months ago


Attachment Image
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CouponPages Avatar
113 months ago
I don't know why anyone would expect otherwise. 99% of the useful information about a cell phone is in the phone records, which they can simply get from the mobile carrier, even without having possession of the phone.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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