CMA102DL

Good stuff. We have a Constitution because experience and history shows that our government has a tendency to keep too many secrets and overreach its power and authority. Ideally, our government should adhere to the Constitution and thus defend our civil liberties by default. But sometimes, interests such as national security can derail the government's focus on the Constitution. This is when folks like Tim Cook can make a great difference by making a stand. And think about, if the government were adhering to the Constitution, then there would be no need for people like Ed Snowden to blow a whistle.

JeffA2 said:

I'm sorry but this is riddled with factual errors:

1. Apple is explicitly allowed to retain custody of the phone. They only  need to permit the FBI to have remote access to enter the PIN data.
2. The modification to the phone software is explicitly restricted to RAM. Once this phone powers off, it will no longer contain the patch that the FBI has requested.
3. Even Apple doesn't claim that the requested software will 'cost many millions' to develop.
4. This was terrorist act inspired by a group hostile to the United States. These groups have demonstrated their ability and will to attack America. This is qualitatively different from other killings.
5. The county did install management software on the phone. Unfortunately, it was not activated. They screwed up. Lots of IT departments do.
6. The widely repeated idea that the FBI could have retrieved the data if only they had not changed the iCloud password has been debunked. What they did was stupid but it didn't really matter in the end -- the phone was in a powered-off state when recovered. At power-on it still requires a PIN.
7. There is no reason that the 5S would be less vulnerable to the procedure requested by the FBI. 
8. Nothing in this case prevents Apple from making future versions of iOS hardened against the procedure. All they have to do is require a PIN to be entered before the phone will enter DFU mode.

1. It would be good if Apple would get to keep the phone at the very end and destroy it. The phone is owned by the US Govt. and it is evidence, to be "borrowed" by Apple.
2. Firmware is always stored in non-volatile memory. The US Govt. has made the case that they need some functions moved to RAM because they think that this will enable them to bruteforce the phone quicker. They want to connect to the phone via Wifi and be able to bruteforce remotely, so they say. Of course, we are not stupid. They will try to get a copy of the firmware via Wifi first. 
3. It could definitely cost multiples of millions of dollars with 10 highly paid engineers and up to 4 weeks each on the project.
4. Seriously, what makes this one more relevant to another mass shooting killing? All evidence in fact points to the fact that this was planned by Farook and wife and that other than help from a neighbor, they really received no other help. They were not connected with ISIS. ISIS wanted nothing to do with them. If Farook and Malik were well connected, then there would be tons of phone, social media and messaging metadata. But make no mistake, the FBI is labeling this as a "terrorist" attack for political reasons. Somehow the word "terrorism" makes this crime more relevant that others...which means that all of us in the USA need to give up our Constitutional rights for the greater good...This is stupid
5, 6, 7 are just excuses
8. No, once you have created this software, it could leak and compromise alike phones in the entire world and could be modified to compromise other phones. This is not about 1 iPhone. The DOJ has at least 170 phones that it needs unlocked and is looking to establish a court precedence. The FBI's goal is to ultimately entrap Apple and undermine everything Apple is doing to protect customer's data in their phones.

I'd say NO to the FBI and DOJ.

Swear said:

Ah, Apple the company that all major terrorist organizations around the world recommend for it's member's use.....

And yet, those ISIS terrorists used PlayStation 4 and clear communication to plan and conduct the Paris attacks. And these terrorists were in watch list and their photos were in the ISIS magazine. Where CT intelligence asleep or were they looking for information in the wrong place? I swear, these intelligence agencies are so worried about encrypted communication that terrorists find alternate channels and avoid detection. I am not saying that you are wrong, but even with iPhones, the NSA can go to the Telecom companies with a court order and request business records. With all that metadata and a bright analyst, CTs should be able to connect dots. But say that the FBI succeeds at forcing Apple to weaken encryption and then continues weakening other encryption, then nobody will use encryption. NOBODY. Terrorists will communicate via couriers and face to face or find other less than obvious communication methods. The general public will stop using the internet for sensitive data transfer. A double whammy. With weakened encryption, the world infrastructures such as power, water and defense will be more exposed to cyber attacks. Hackers and governments will be able to easily mount attacks to shut down power, open dams, maybe redirect drones....imagination is the limit.

I admire Tim. I am wondering if he would be willing to move main operations overseas given all the persecution from the US government.

spinnor said:

Can someone please explain to me why Apple can't just give the government the information on the phone, destroy the phone and wait for the next mass murder case to have to open another phone? The government should not be able to open the phone, just Apple when there is such an extreme case at hand. Don't give the government the key to the phone just the info on the phone? I don't get it.

Thanks for any help in understanding why Apple can't just give the government info on a phone of mass murderers on a case by case basis.

Apple does not work for the US Govt.
Creating backdoor software always creates the possibility of it leaking out, even at Apple. Remember how some Apple employees misplaced prototype iPhones in the past?
And even if it does not leak out, engineers involved in the project would know how to develop a backdoor to the iPhone.
This sets an ugly court precedence and it will be reused for every kind of encrypted technology.

IMHO, the FBI and DOJ should serve the search warrant to the rightful owner of the phone and leave Apple out of it.