Apple Under Fire from San Bernardino Victims

Apple is under fire because it doesn’t want to create software that would circumvent its security system built into the iPhones. Some victims of the San Bernardino attack intend file a brief in support of the FBI’s attempt to force the iPhone maker to crack open the iPhone 5c belonging to Syed Farook, one of the shooters who killed 14 people and injured 22 others in the attack in San Bernardino, reports Reuters.

Meanwhile, other details have emerged besides the Guardian’s report saying the FBI carefully planned a PR battle against Apple, and that the San Bernardino case came at a convenient time to put Apple under pressure.

As detailed by Re/code, the investigators discovered Farook’s government-issued iPhone 5c on December 3, and worked with the county’s information technology staff to “to obtain evidence related to the investigation in the days following the attack.” The county reset the iCloud password on the account, which granted the FBI immediate access to all backups (it had a warrant for the info) but the problem was the latest backup was on October 19, weeks before Farook and his wife slaughtered his fellow workers in San Bernardino.

The password reset prohibited the investigators from accessing another backup following the incident – the only point where Apple and the DOJ agree.

As a result, the FBI claims iCloud backups aren’t enough, and is insisting that Apple develop software which would disable one of the security features on the iPhone, the “auto erase” feature.

Earlier last week, Tim Cook penned a letter to customers in which he explained why such a request would be dangerous, and stated the company will challenge this order. Since then the “Letter to customers” page has been updated, with a link to a FAQ page in which Apple answers the most common questions relating to the legal battle between the tech company and the FBI.