Security News > 2020 > January > If at first you don't succeed, pry, pry again: Feds once again demand Apple unlock encrypted iPhones in yet another terrorism case

The FBI has asked Apple to unlock two iPhones belonging to a murderer, potentially reviving a tense battle over encryption and the rights of law enforcement to digital devices.

Alshamrani had two iPhones - one of which he reportedly shot and damaged - and the FBI has been trying to unlock the phones and extract the encrypted contents to see if there is any evidence that others were involved in the attack, or other clues to his actions.

Famously, the FBI and Apple ended up in a tense stalemate over the contents of another shooter's iPhone - that of San Bernardino terrorist Syed Farook in 2015 - in which the iGiant said it had no way to access the contents of the encrypted locked phone, and the FBI asked a judge to force Apple to find a way in.

Apple CEO Tim Cook put his neck on the line by publicly stating that Apple would not do so, and ultimately the Feds backed down by claiming they had found a third-party that could access the phone.

The last point may be critical because in a special inquiry report by the US Department of Justice's internal inspector general into the battle between the FBI and Apple over the San Bernardino shooter's phone - published in March 2018 - the watchdog noted that the FBI "Did not pursue all possible avenues in the search for a solution" before contacting Apple.

News URL

https://go.theregister.co.uk/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2020/01/08/fbi_pushes_backdoors_iphone/