Apple emits iPhone cop-block update – plus iOS, macOS, Safari patches Apple has released the latest version of its mobile operating system complete with its Fed-blocking option. The iOS 11.4.1 upgrade is small by Apple standards – coming in at around 200MB – but it represents a big headache for the FBI and other organizations that want to gain access to someone else's phone because it kills off …
No doubt that's an accidental loophole that will Apple will fix in a future update (probably 12.0, unless there's a really good reason to do an 11.4.2)
Even if the fix isn't perfect yet it is a big improvement and makes things harder for cops trying to illegally snoop people's phones. It also helps with USB security - i.e. the attacks talked about a few years ago where a miscreant could build a USB "charger" that secretly makes a data connection to a phone, since once USB restricted mode is entered a USB device is only good for charging, nothing else.
Can you not just use CarPlay in wireless mode? Sure it doesn’t charge unless you’ve got wireless charging and a newer iPhone but it’s a lot less hassle than plugging in your phone especially on a short journey.
Also why 1 hour? Give me an option to set that to whatever time I want.
No doubt that's an accidental loophole that will Apple will fix in a future update
Easier said than done. It will require "pairing" USB devices to fix it. While theoretically possible some of the devices in question are related to assistance technologies for hearing, vision, etc impairment so "fixing it" without breaking various disability regulations may be an interesting exercise.
If it was that easy, Apple would have "fixed it" long ago as it provides them with yet another route to deny the use of 3rd party accessories.
If Apple colluded with the FBI which is a direct contradiction to their Company Policy, AND it got out that they had done so, Lawyers (remember them, the scum of the earth) all over the USA and beyond would be filing billion dollar law suits against Apple.
There could be millions of class actions filed. If could bring down the company (no cheering at the back !)
Do you really think they'd risk that?
The point is that Apple COULD NOT comply with a warrant, because they had no way to access the terrorist's locked phone.
They will act on warrants to deliver information stored in iCloud, since that's not encrypted with a key the end user controls. The data on the phone, or in iTunes backups on a computer, are encrypted with keys that the user controls and Apple has no way to override that. The FBI can serve a warrant for such stuff all they want, Apple cannot comply because they can't access the info and won't change their policies / OS to make themselves able to access it even though the FBI thinks they should.
If your worried about cops you shouldn't use a smartphone anyway. Get an old Nokia and keep switching to new ones often. They are cheap enough now to use as burner phones, and they don't have WiFi or GPS, or android, iOS, usb hacks, or cameras. If you buy the phone and top-up anonymously then they can't even prove its your phone.
Waiting for Apple to start using their privacy, updates and security more in their marketing.
With a fruity device it’s good for all updates for 5+ years, Apple don’t sell all your private date to advertisers, they even seem to be against your phone being hacked in seconds.
Compared to android which Rediculiouly easy to break into, no updates, unless your on a flagship and limited to a very little for a few years. All your data is slurped, packaged and sold. And you pay again for the phone.
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