Hopkins Researchers Find Flaw In Apple iPhone Security
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Breaking and entering in the digital age. As tech giant Apple gears up to battle the FBI over access into one of the San Bernardino shooters' iPhones, some Johns Hopkins researchers have found Apple's security isn't as great as they boast.
George Solis has more on how this discovery could impact the case.
The question is whether or not to create what's called a "back door" to allow police access to iPhones. The real threat is how easy it may be to break in through the front one first.
Researchers say Apple's fix, while better than it was, is still open to attacks.
The back and forth over privacy vs. security brewing between Apple and the FBI has reached its boiling point.
On Tuesday, the two sides will meet in court to decide whether or not Apple will be forced to allow the government to break into one of the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone.
"This case is not about the FBI. It's not about Apple; it's not about Congress; it's not about anything other than trying to do an active investigation," said FBI Director James Comey.
Syed Farouk is one of two attackers killed by police after the shooting spree that claimed 14 lives.
Apple is adamant that creating a so-called back door is a bigger threat to safety.
"Weakening encryption would only hurt consumers and well-meaning users," said one Apple official.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins agree and say they now have the evidence that proves it---doing it without the need to create extra doors.
"We have to figure out how to lock the front doors," said a Hopkins researcher.
Researchers were able to exploit a weakness in Apple's security and hack the phone's iMessaging system.
So what information is at risk? Your pictures, videos and private messages not meant for public eyes.
It's proof that no security system is perfect.
"If they want to let law enforcement get in, that's also going to let in hackers," said the researcher.
Apple has since fixed the Hopkins hack. It also would not have helped the FBI access the shooter's phone.
Experts say the best security is to avoid sharing or posting anything private through texts.