Apple To Fight Order To Help FBI Unlock Shooter's iPhone
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Fourteen people are killed when a couple in San Bernardino, California opened fire inside a social services center in December.
Now, in an unprecedented ruling--- a judge has ordered Apple to help the FBI hack into one of the killers phones.
Meghan McCorkell has more on why Apple is fighting back.
Months after the horrifying attack in San Bernardino questions still remain: why did Syed Farook and his wife target that location, did anyone help them carry out the attack and where did they go before dying in a shootout with police?
FBI agents hope some of the answers can be found in one of the killer's iPhones.
"We still have one of those killers' phones that we have not been able to open," said James Comey, FBI Director on February 9th.
Now, a judge has ordered Apple to create new technology to help the FBI hack into Farook's phone, a move Apple's CEO calls "dangerous".
"There have been people that suggest that we should have a back door, but the reality is if you put a back door in that back door is for everybody, for good guys and for bad guys," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.
A setting on the iPhone can erase all data after ten failed passcode attempts.
The FBI wants Apple to disable that setting. Then they'll use computers to crack Farook's security code without losing any data.
"There could be names. There could be addresses. There could be emails," authorities said.
University of Baltimore Criminologist Jeffrey Ian Ross says the information on that phone could be vital in the investigation.
"It's a treasure trove of information that any self-respecting criminal investigator would want to get their hands on," he said.
Still Apple argues, hacking its own system may create a master key that potentially puts all its iPhone users at risk.
Apple now has five days to appeal judge's ruling.
Both Farook and his wife destroyed their personal cell phones. The phone the FBI now has is his work phone.