Apple vs. FBI

[Purplelady1040]

Second point is that the long standing legal principle of 'Obstruction of Justice' comes into play here.  Obstruction may consist of any attempt to hinder the discovery, apprehension, conviction or punishment of anyone who has committed a crime.  One cannot hinder the administration of justice by their actions or inactions. 

Apple has a duty to aid, and not to hinder law enforcement. 

Apple simply trying to play on peoples emotions and argue this case in the media for public support in the courts.

[Y]

Thirdly, from what I've read about encryption, it appears to me one can't encrypt without using an encryption algorithm.  Apple would have the algorithm and therefore would have the ability to decrypt anything encrypted using their encryption software.

It appears to me that Apple is playing on the public's ignorance - and emotions - and trying their best to not admit to the world they can decrypt your data on you Apple devices.

[Y]

Of course, there's always the chance that this is all for show.

According to an article I read about the NSA and encryption, they can decrypt most, if not all, encryption schemes.

Therefore, this is grand theater to save Apple's image.

[Y]

OH! 

Another article I just came across points out that this is all a publicity stunt since Apple has unlocked phones for law enforcement on dozens of occasions.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-18/it-all-just-publicity-stunt-apple-unlocked-iphones-feds-70-times

Is It All Just A Publicity Stunt: Apple Unlocked iPhones For The Feds 70 Times Before

According to the The Daily Beast's Shane Harris, in a similar case in New York last year, Apple acknowledged that it could extract such data if it wanted to. But the real shocker is that according to prosecutors in that case, Apple has unlocked phones for authorities at least 70 times since 2008. (Apple doesn't dispute this figure.)

[Locutus]

Thirdly, from what I've read about encryption, it appears to me one can't encrypt without using an encryption algorithm.  Apple would have the algorithm and therefore would have the ability to decrypt anything encrypted using their encryption software.

It appears to me that Apple is playing on the public's ignorance - and emotions - and trying their best to not admit to the world they can decrypt your data on you Apple devices.

That's not 100% true.  In order to decrypt messages (such as iMessages in Apple's case), it's a key that is used to decrypt the messages.  Apple doesn't possess the keys.  Those keys reside on the end user devices. 

[Purplelady1040]

Here's a question? Why can't Apple just take the information off the phone and give it to the Feds? Just wondering why and then they wouldn't be considered hindering.

[Y]

That's not 100% true.  In order to decrypt messages (such as iMessages in Apple's case), it's a key that is used to decrypt the messages.  Apple doesn't possess the keys.  Those keys reside on the end user devices.

I understand about the keys.  Apple possesses the algorithm which created both the keys and the data encryption.  I doubt they're without the ability to unlock the device, and as a matter of fact, they've done it before.

[Locutus]

Here's a question? Why can't Apple just take the information off the phone and give it to the Feds? Just wondering why and then they wouldn't be considered hindering.

They gave them the information from the phone that was backed up to iCloud.  However, he had turned off the automatic iCloud backup in the days leading to the attack.  They're interested in what was on the phone during that missing time period.  They could also tell, from the contents of the iCloud backup, that he had also enabled an automatic wipe of his phone upon 10 incorrect pass code entries. 

[Purplelady1040]

They gave them the information from the phone that was backed up to iCloud.  However, he had turned off the automatic iCloud backup in the days leading to the attack.  They're interested in what was on the phone during that missing time period.  They could also tell, from the contents of the iCloud backup, that he had also enabled an automatic wipe of his phone upon 10 incorrect pass code entries.

Okay, didn't know.

[Locutus]

I understand about the keys.  Apple possesses the algorithm which created both the keys and the data encryption.  I doubt they're without the ability to unlock the device, and as a matter of fact, they've done it before.

The algorithm is useless without the keys.  That's the whole point of public key cryptography. 

[Y]

Here's a question? Why can't Apple just take the information off the phone and give it to the Feds? Just wondering why and then they wouldn't be considered hindering.

IINM, it would involve chain of custody of evidence when it came to prosecution.

Apple is either going to have to give the FBI the way to unlock the phone or Apple is going to have to unlock the phone in the presence of the FBI.

[Y]

The algorithm is useless without the keys.  That's the whole point of public key cryptography. 

Not in this instance, as Apple has already shown it can unlock their devices.

[Locutus]

Not in this instance, as Apple has already shown it can unlock their devices.

I'm not 100% sure as to the accuracy of the statement I'm about to make, but that may have been true on previous versions of iOS, and not the most current iOS9.  Apple has beefed up security and encryption with each new release of iOS.

Also, from what I've read, the FBI isn't asking Apple to unlock (decrypt) the device.  They're asking for a special software bundle that would boot the iPhone into a mode that would disable the auto-erase feature I mentioned previously.  That, in turn, would allow the FBI to enter as many possible combinations as it wanted to (in other words brute force attack the device) without fear of the device self-destructing after 10 attempts.  How easy it would be to crack his pass code would be determined by the complexity of the pass code obviously. 

[Purplelady1040]

I guess we will see what happens as Apple was given a court order today and have one week to comply or be held in contempt.

[Locutus]

I guess we will see what happens as Apple was given a court order today and have one week to comply or be held in contempt.

That's not true. 

They have until next Friday to respond to the judge's order as to why they shouldn't comply.  They can claim it's overly burdensome, or that it would hurt their bottom line profitability, etc.   A contempt of court won't be issued unless Apple fails to respond to the court order.  That response doesn't necessarily mean that they have to unlock the phone by next Friday.