Impossible To Unlock iPhones?

Apple was unable to grant the request of a US DoJ to access an iPhone saying that 90% of its devices running on iOS 8 or higher cannot be unlocked

10:12 23 October 2015

A US Department of Justice has tried to force Apple to help prosecutors access a seized iPhone. The company responded in a briefing filed on Monday saying that the encrypted data on newer iPhones cannot be accessed adding that 90per cent of its devices running on iOS 8 or higher are impossible to unlock.

 

However, the phone that is subject of the investigation is an older device and still, Apple has so far resisted unlocking it for the authorities.

 

In the briefing, the company said: "Forcing Apple to extract data in this case, absent clear legal authority to do so, could threaten the trust between Apple and its customers and substantially tarnish the Apple brand.”

 

The company insists that the only way to decrypt data on newer devices is to enter the encryption key, which is known only to the user.

 

Meanwhile, Apple chief executive Tim Cook said that the company does not allow back door access to its software.

 

Speaking at the Wall Street Journal’s WSJDLive conference, he said: "We think encryption is a must in today's world,"

 

"No-one should have to decide privacy or security. We should be smart enough to do both."