The Apple v. FBI Respite Was Non-Existent

[steven36]

Two days ago, Ben predicted that the respite from the Apple v. FBI fight would not be long.   He was right. 

 

The FBI has now annouced that it will help the Arkansas police unlock an iPhone in an unrelated case. 

 

That's about as "in your face" as it gets.  From this I draw three quick conclusions:

• Those who said that the FBI was making  up the existence of an exploit as a face saving way of getting out from the California case were wrong.
• Those who thought that one reason that the vulnerability equities process might not be in play was because the FBI might not "control" the exploit were likely wrong -- they have either purchased it from whoever provided it or contracted for its long-term use; and
• OR, it is possible that the FBI has found/purchased/rented more than one exploit.

 

One note:  From the public report it is not clear which version of the iPhone is at issue.  If it is the same 5c as in the San Berandino case then this story confirms what we've known already -- that whatever exploit it is, is reproducible, at least when law enforcement has physical possession of the phone.  Consider the implications, however, if this phone is a later version running a more-up-to-date iOS.

 

The Source

 

[straycat19]

2 hours ago, steven36 said:

Two days ago, Ben predicted that the respite from the Apple v. FBI fight would not be long.   He was right. 

 

The FBI has now annouced that it will help the Arkansas police unlock an iPhone in an unrelated case. 

 

That's about as "in your face" as it gets.  From this I draw three quick conclusions:

• Those who said that the FBI was making  up the existence of an exploit as a face saving way of getting out from the California case were wrong.
• Those who thought that one reason that the vulnerability equities process might not be in play was because the FBI might not "control" the exploit were likely wrong -- they have either purchased it from whoever provided it or contracted for its long-term use; and
• OR, it is possible that the FBI has found/purchased/rented more than one exploit.

 

One note:  From the public report it is not clear which version of the iPhone is at issue.  If it is the same 5c as in the San Berandino case then this story confirms what we've known already -- that whatever exploit it is, is reproducible, at least when law enforcement has physical possession of the phone.  Consider the implications, however, if this phone is a later version running a more-up-to-date iOS.

 

The Source

 

 

Never discount anything.  Microsoft has patched a couple holes in Windows that it has admitted has existed in EVERY version of Windows and they never patched them until now.  Even patches open up other holes at times.  And, though they haven't been publicized much, holes in iOS, linux, and OSX have fallen into the same group of being found across the various versions in the past.  So it isn't unreasonable to believe there is a hole across the iOS platform that can be exploited and may even be unfixable without creating a different exploitable hole or even creating a new iOS from the ground up.  When it comes to software, and hardware, anything is possible.  I believe, based on past incidents, that the FBI probably paid the researchers for their exploit since paying to 'rent' an exploit really doesn't make sense and they would want complete control of the exploit including a confidentiality clause in the purchase agreement so no information on the exploit would become public until such time as the FBI decides to make it so.

[steven36]

48 minutes ago, straycat19 said:

 

Never discount anything.  Microsoft has patched a couple holes in Windows that it has admitted has existed in EVERY version of Windows and they never patched them until now.  Even patches open up other holes at times.  And, though they haven't been publicized much, holes in iOS, linux, and OSX have fallen into the same group of being found across the various versions in the past.  So it isn't unreasonable to believe there is a hole across the iOS platform that can be exploited and may even be unfixable without creating a different exploitable hole or even creating a new iOS from the ground up.  When it comes to software, and hardware, anything is possible.  I believe, based on past incidents, that the FBI probably paid the researchers for their exploit since paying to 'rent' an exploit really doesn't make sense and they would want complete control of the exploit including a confidentiality clause in the purchase agreement so no information on the exploit would become public until such time as the FBI decides to make it so.

Did you have too quote the whole 1st post  to explain you're love for the police ? Back doors are back doors thing is if the FBI  has the back door most likely  anyone with enough money could buy one too . Now since they bought  this back door there going go around the USA  and unlock them, then no one overseas will  buy IPhones.  Its a big difference  then them hiding the fact they exploited things in the past  than what there doing now in plain site, . Its going to damage  the USA  rep to were no one will buy software from the USA  overseas , who wants products with known back doors in them?  I know I dont I rather use a O/S  made somewhere besides the USA . All ready we lost most of our manufacturing   jobs too China  now the Tech Jobs  will be gone soon too  . And  every bit of it you can thank Uncle Sam for it .