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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States, has been notorious for its iPhone cracking stunts with tools believed to be supplied by third-party security services.

Apple with the upcoming version of iOS (iOS 12) will look to block the loophole that the law enforcement have leveraged to crack into locked iPhone with a feature known as USB Restricted Mode, that limits the number of access through the USB port.

While the FBI had relied on solutions from GrayShift and Cellebrite, particularly GrayShift’s GrayKey, which is capable of unlocking even newer iPhone models, through the use of the USB port to access the iPhone in order to crack its password.

The GrayKey is able to crack locked iPhone using more attempts than would normally be allowed, which process takes from two hours to more than 24 hours, depending on the strength of the password.

Now, Apple has confirmed the USB Restricted Mode security patch will make it into the final iOS release, to help customers defend against hackers, identity thieves and intrusions into their personal data.

Albeit, the company is not expressly trying to suppress law enforcement, rather it claims to have the greatest respect for the agencies, and don’t design its security improvements to frustrate their efforts to do their jobs.

The infamous federal order issued asking for Apple to help the FBI crack into an iPhone belonging to Syed Farook, one of the attackers in the shooting at San Bernardino, California is perhaps a pointer.

Apple, however, opposed the judge's order to assist the FBI break into the iPhone of Syed Farook, calling the directive "an overreach by the U.S. government."

Apple to thwart Law Enforcement's iPhone cracking with USB Restricted Mode



The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States, has been notorious for its iPhone cracking stunts with tools believed to be supplied by third-party security services.

Apple with the upcoming version of iOS (iOS 12) will look to block the loophole that the law enforcement have leveraged to crack into locked iPhone with a feature known as USB Restricted Mode, that limits the number of access through the USB port.

While the FBI had relied on solutions from GrayShift and Cellebrite, particularly GrayShift’s GrayKey, which is capable of unlocking even newer iPhone models, through the use of the USB port to access the iPhone in order to crack its password.

The GrayKey is able to crack locked iPhone using more attempts than would normally be allowed, which process takes from two hours to more than 24 hours, depending on the strength of the password.

Now, Apple has confirmed the USB Restricted Mode security patch will make it into the final iOS release, to help customers defend against hackers, identity thieves and intrusions into their personal data.

Albeit, the company is not expressly trying to suppress law enforcement, rather it claims to have the greatest respect for the agencies, and don’t design its security improvements to frustrate their efforts to do their jobs.

The infamous federal order issued asking for Apple to help the FBI crack into an iPhone belonging to Syed Farook, one of the attackers in the shooting at San Bernardino, California is perhaps a pointer.

Apple, however, opposed the judge's order to assist the FBI break into the iPhone of Syed Farook, calling the directive "an overreach by the U.S. government."
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