Investigation into classified data leaks is stymied by iPhone security feature.
In summary:
Macworld reports that the FBI was unable to extract data from a reporter’s seized iPhone 13 due to Apple’s Lockdown Mode feature.
Lockdown Mode, introduced in iOS 16, provides extreme privacy protection against targeted spyware by disabling features and requiring device unlock for accessory connections.
This incident demonstrates Apple’s robust security measures can effectively thwart even law enforcement forensic tools, showcasing strong user privacy protections.
FBI tech specialists have been unable to gain access to a journalist’s iPhone because it was in Lockdown Mode, court filings reveal.
As part of an investigation into the suspected leaking of classified data by a Pentagon contractor, the FBI last month raided the home of reporter Hannah Natanson and confiscated a wide range of devices, including an iPhone 13 and two MacBook Pros. They were able to access one of the MacBooks by pressing Natanson’s fingertip on the Touch ID sensor (which was permitted under the terms of the search warrant), but they had no such luck with the iPhone.
