Pretend surprise: US State Department has already purchased a box from Grayshift to unlock iPhones on its own

Some time ago, the American government established a famous partnership with Cellebrite, the obscure Israeli digital security firm, to unlock iPhones recovered from criminals. However, it may be that this relationship is over, now that a simpler and cheaper option is on the market after all, you need to think about economics even when it comes to national security and actions on the threshold of ethics.

According to Motherboard, a sector of US Department of State bought, on March 6, one of the infamous black boxes from Grayshift for $ 15,000. The purchase is listed on the US government's public data system and is described simply as "computer equipment or peripherals", but the website confirmed that the purchase is actually the iPhone unlocking instrument.

Grayshift's GrayKey

As we explained in our post detailing the box’s operation, Grayshift offers two models of GrayKey its buyers a $ 15,000, which unlocks up to 300 iPhones, and a $ 30,000, with unlimited usage.

Someone could argue that the State Department should have taken the scorpion out of its pocket and paid twice as much to have the functionality forever, but remember that the most expensive box has serious security risks, as we explained. If American agents read this here, you’re welcome.

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Meanwhile, Apple’s vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, shared a few words about the current iOS security situation and the FBI's attempts to create a special version of the system that will grant you unrestricted access to Ma devices, even if they are blocked.

Craig Federighi demonstrating Face ID

In a report by New York Times talking about the security agency's recent advances and a possible warrant that would be created and would force technology companies to create unlocking tools that could be used by the FBI whenever necessary, Federighi said:

Proposals that involve giving the keys to consumer data to anyone other than the consumer inject new and dangerous weaknesses in product security. Weakening this security does not make sense when we consider that our consumers rely on our products to keep their personal information protected, to deal with their business or even to manage vital infrastructures such as energy grids and transport systems.

So it seems that Apple is not going back to its starting position which can be good or bad, depending on your opinion. What do you think?

via 9to5Mac