Big media companies sue FBI for keeping San Bernardino iPhone exploit details a secret

Looks like the FBI vs. Apple saga isn’t over. This time, though, the FBI will be going against big media companies like The Associated Press, Gannett (the parent company of USA Today), and Vice Media. These companies filed a freedom of information lawsuit against the bureau to compel them to share information on how it was able to hack the iPhone 5c, which was used in the San Bernardino case, and who hacked it. According to the filing, this poses a “serious undisclosed security vulnerability” in one of the most popular consumer products in the world. The news organizations say Apple should be informed on how the hack was accomplished to help fix the flaw and prevent the many iPhone users from being hacked.

The group also claims this incident brings up questions regarding allocation of public funds, governmental oversight issues, and whether FBI has any legal basis for keeping the information (the organizations claim they don’t).  

Source: Digital Trends

iPhone involved in San Bernardino shooting offers no new leads

The iPhone 5c involved in a highly-publicized legal battle between FBI and Apple doesn’t seem to have produced any evidence of substance or any leads, making it seem like a rather anti-climactic ending for this particular issue. FBI and Apple were up against each other for months as the Bureau was pressuring Apple to break its security measures for an iPhone said to have been used during the San Bernardino attack by Syed Farook. The case was called off in the last minute when the FBI got a third-party method to break into the device. Unfortunately, reports suggest that they haven’t been able to recover any useful information from the device. Anonymous law enforcement officials cited by CNN said there weren’t any unknown contacts or message data seen on the phone.

However, CNN emphasized that the phone was at least useful for confirming that the attackers didn’t get outside help, especially during the immediate aftermath of the attack that the FBI is trying to fill in. There is also data on the phone not obtained from previous iCloud backups but it doesn’t seem to bring about new leads into the case.

Source: CNN | Via: The Verge

Apple CEO Tim Cook addresses ongoing battle with FBI over encryption

Stephan Lam/Reuters

Apple CEO Tim Cook started off its SE event without shying away from a hot topic. He addressed the ongoing legal battle the company has with the FBI, which is trying to extract information from an iPhone owned by one of the accused shooters of 2015’s San Bernardino attack. Cook says he owes it to their customers to protect their privacy and data. The first legal hearing of the case will happen tomorrow afternoon in a Central California District court.

Cook said during the press event, “We did not expect to be in this position at odds with our own government. We believe strongly that we have a responsibility to help you protect your data and protect your privacy. We owe it to our customers, and we owe it to our country. This is an issue that impacts all of us, and we will not shrink from this responsibility.”

Source: The Verge + ABC News

Apple's Tim Cook makes cover of Time for fight with FBI

Apple CEO Tim Cook is making the cover of Time Magazine but this time the focus is over the fight with the FBI. The cover shows  a black and white photo of a determined Tim Cook at his desk in Apple's headquarters flanked by an iPad Pro as well as an iMac.

The feature story is an exclusive interview that covers the implications of the much publicized stance Apple has taken on the side of privacy versus the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Apple is having a media event next week which will be live streamed. It is expected to be a product launch but many are wondering if Tim Cook will take at least a few minutes to address the elephant in the room and give the company's stand on what has turned out to be a hot topic that affects everyone.

The Time cover feature seems to cover all the bases of this issue and manages to air Apple's stance. Read more about it here.