FBI asks Israeli security firm to unlock San Bernardino terrorist’s iPhone

 

The FBI taps Israel’s Celebrate into neutralizing Apple’s encryption security after failing to force the tech giant into compliance.

By i24news

 

An Israeli firm is helping the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to unlock an iPhone that belonged to one of the San Bernardino shootings, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Wednesday.

FBI vs Apple

The FBI is turning to Cellebrite, which provides forensic software, after pressuring iPhone manufacturer Apple to create a way to override the phone’s security.

Cellebrite offers a forensics system that can retrieve data hidden inside encrypted phones.

Apple fought the FBI’s request, saying such a back door would essentially become a skeleton key that could easily be abused.

The FBI and Apple were to begin presenting their respective cases in court on Tuesday, but a federal judge agreed to postpone the hearing after US prosecutors said a “third party” might make Apple’s help unnecessary.

The phone in question belonged to Syed Rizwan Farook, who along with his wife killed 14 people in a shooting at a company holiday party.

 

View original i24news publication at:
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/americas/107155-160323-israeli-firm-helping-fbi-unlock-san-bernardino-shooter-s-iphone