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FBI Couldn’t Get into WaPo Reporter’s iPhone Because It Had Lockdown Mode Enabled (www.404media.co)

submitted 22 hours ago by tonytins@pawb.social to c/technology@lemmy.world

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The FBI has been unable to access a Washington Post reporter’s seized iPhone because it was in Lockdown Mode, a sometimes overlooked feature that makes iPhones broadly more secure, according to recently filed court records.

The court record shows what devices and data the FBI was able to ultimately access, and which devices it could not, after raiding the home of the reporter, Hannah Natanson, in January as part of an investigation into leaks of classified information. It also provides rare insight into the apparent effectiveness of Lockdown Mode, or at least how effective it might be before the FBI may try other techniques to access the device.

“Because the iPhone was in Lockdown mode, CART could not extract that device,” the court record reads, referring to the FBI’s Computer Analysis Response Team, a unit focused on performing forensic analyses of seized devices. The document is written by the government, and is opposing the return of Natanson’s devices.

Archive: http://archive.today/gfTg9

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[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 106 points 21 hours ago (81 children)

Best advertisement I've heard for an iPhone ever. Now that Android moving to the same walled garden business model...

[–] BenderRodriguez@lemmy.world 6 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (2 children)

You can lockdown an Android phone too. At least I can on my Pixel 8a.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 hours ago

That is a misnomer. The android's "lockdown" is equivalent of on an iPhone pressing power button + up button to bring up the power menu which immediately disables biometrics. It only disables biometrics, doesn't really "hardens" the phone in anyway.

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world -4 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (5 children)

And the FBI can't get in? I doubt that. It has always been notoriously easy for law enforcement to get in to Android phones.

[–] Lyubo@lemmy.ml 0 points 4 hours ago

GrapheneOS is not the ordinary Android phone.

[–] Lfrith@lemmy.ca 7 points 13 hours ago

If someone is worried about the FBI I don't think that putting trust in a US company who's CEO has very close ties to the current US administration is a wise idea.

I'd be seeking hardware to run an OS like GrapheneOS. Going with iOS in the US seems as wise as someone in China going with Xiaomi if they are trying to go under the radar of China's Ministry of State Security.

[–] kaiyo@piefed.ca 29 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Obligatory XKCD.

[–] Lyubo@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 hours ago

Everyone have different thread model...

[–] BenderRodriguez@lemmy.world 4 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Under Kash Patel, I'd be surprised if the FBI could unlock a Mime's door, let alone a phone.

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 5 points 18 hours ago

Haha, very true. Loyalty over competency.

[–] dan@upvote.au 4 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Even if you turned the phone off? It should be secure on a cold boot before entering the password, as nothing is unencrypted yet.

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world -2 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

You know, I have not kept up. Things may have improved recently. But historically there's always been flaws in the security.

[–] Lyubo@lemmy.ml 0 points 4 hours ago

And that is the big reason why you should update. It's a cat and mouse situation. This is the reason why GrapheneOS offer security previews and encourage you to install them.

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