FBI: purchased iPhone 5C unlock tool does not work with new models

The tool that the FBI used to unlock an attacker’s iPhone does not work on the iPhone 6 models and the 5s, a top executive of the American service claims. He also confirmed that the tool has been purchased and he thinks the FBI can keep the method a secret from Apple.

“It’s simply not true that if Apple had written software for the killer’s iPhone, it would inevitably have put the company at catastrophic risk,” FBI director James Comey said during a speech at Kenyon College. “No more than we are at catastrophic risk now that the government has bought a tool that provides judicial access to the phone.” With these statements, the CEO confirms that the FBI has purchased the unlocking tools from a private party.

Comey stated that the FBI had asked Apple to do two things: turn off auto-encryption on the phone and turn off the functionality that increases the retry time after each PIN entered incorrectly. . “It would take years to find the right code; if the feature was disabled, it would take 26 minutes.” According to Comey, one of the positive effects of the case against Apple was that all kinds of parties were looking for ways to unlock the iPhone 5C with iOS 9.

The method that was eventually offered will remain protected, the chief executive said. “The FBI is very good at keeping it secret and the people we bought this from, I know a thing or two about them, are also good at protecting it. Their motivation is in line with ours.” According to Comey, the service was unsure whether the details about the flaw found should be released: “Then you get an interesting discussion because if we tell it, they’re going to fix it and we’re back to where we started. But maybe we will, we haven’t decided yet.”

Comey emphasized that the tool only works with the iPhone 5C. “The world has now rushed to the 6 series. This does not work with the 6 models nor with the 5s. The tool works with a limited group of phones.” The director further elaborated on the dilemma facing the FBI with the advent of widespread encryption, but said he doesn’t expect that trend to end access to data, citing as an example that Apple could do so on command. access iCloud data.