Apple Says Password on San Bernardino Shooter's iPhone Was Changed While in Government Possession

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Posted February 20, 2016 at 8:20am by iClarified

Apple has revealed that the password on the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone was changed while in government possession. The Apple ID password linked to the smartphone was modified less than 24 hours after authorities obtained the iPhone, the company told BuzzFeed. If that hadn't occurred, they may have been able to access a backup of the device.

The revelation comes after the DOJ filed a motion to compel the company to build a backdoor into the iPhone, alleging “Apple appears to object based on […] a perceived negative impact to its reputation and marketing strategy were it to provide the ordered assistance to the government.”

Apple has been in regular discussions with the government since early January and proposed four different ways to recover the information off the device without building a backdoor. One method involved connecting the iPhone to known Wi-Fi network to trigger an iCloud backup. Apple sent engineers to try that method but they were unable to do it. They then discovered that the Apple ID password associated with the iPhone had been changed. The FBI claims this was done by someone at the San Bernardino Health Department.

Had the password not been changed the government would not have needed to demand Apple build a backdoor into its devices to access the iPhone.

Asked why the company is pushing back so hard against this particular FBI request when it has assisted the agency in the past, Apple executives noted that the San Bernadino case is fundamentally different from others in which it was involved. Apple has never before been asked to build an entirely new version of its iOS operating system designed to disable iPhone security measures.

You can read the open letter from Tim Cook explaining why Apple opposes the creation of backdoor into its devices by clicking here. Please follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, or RSS for updates.

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Apple Says Password on San Bernardino Shooter's iPhone Was Changed While in Government Possession

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Techno - February 23, 2016 at 4:17pm

9/11, WW2, Vietnam, Korean War, Invasion of Normandy were all by the government. I tell you, man, if I didn't read your comment I would have swear I was alone in this world. I better take my meds thou so I can see more clearly what you're talking about. "Jesus, is that you, yes it's me one of you disciples"

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Techno - February 23, 2016 at 4:13pm

There is a way to create a back door to the OS and it's actually not so difficult for Apple. The mobile devices are control thru a certificate in the Apple servers. Well hello...That should give everyone an Idea how to create a backdoor. :)

JohhnyFive - February 21, 2016 at 11:01pm

the simple answer that tim cook should had replied was," we do not have the technology to create an os with a backdoor" ending their request as the technology does not exist yet to implement. otherwise we'd be requesting time portals and replicators. the technology to break into an individual iphone or any phone already exists if the phone is in possession. what the fbi wants is to be able to reach into any iphone anywhere on the planet with a code and an imei and that is not right. at that point the fbi would outstretch their domain of homeland security and reach into the dark depths of cia/secret service land, something the fbi have always wanted. this isn't about security at this point, its a matter of privacy for people all over the world regardless of nationality.

bob smith - February 21, 2016 at 6:46pm

Since Apple will do it for the FBI the Russian, Chinese and every other government in the world will be able to hack into anybody's iPhone.... be careful of what are asking for. There is nothing on the iPhone that the FBI does;t already know about. It's not going to stop another shooting it's not going to help anything other than other governments in the world when they demand from Apple what the FBI is asking.

Great - February 20, 2016 at 11:17pm

How'd they get the original password in the first place, if they managed to change it? And why don't they go ask that person who changed it for the password? And why can't they go hack the shooter's email account to reset the password now? I'm sure that there are other ways to go about it before asking Apple to backdoor their own OS.

Nitro Junkie - February 20, 2016 at 11:53pm

They're talking about the Apple ID password not the iPhone unlock code which is what they're needing. The company that owns the phone, a public health department which is where the shooter worked changed the Apple ID password.

JohnnyFive - February 21, 2016 at 11:08pm

chances are that it wasn't locked like the other phone they had in their possession.

SteveO - February 20, 2016 at 4:23pm

Well they go on iCloud, click Forgot Password, see on what email is registered and sent and then crack that mailbox and reset the password and VOILA !

Jacob - February 20, 2016 at 1:40pm

This is standard procedure. They changed the password in case someone else has the original password, and remote erases the phone.

Imri - February 20, 2016 at 8:01pm

I wish I could up up vote your comment buddy ;)

zed cruise - February 20, 2016 at 9:48am

Since the police tampered with the phone the judge should withdraw the request if the judge does not than the people should demand charges filled against the judge the police should be investigated or at the very least an inquire be held.

6italia0 - February 20, 2016 at 8:27am

I think I have an idea of how they were able to change the password, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to do it either, JS