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Apple’s head of software has criticised the FBI for trying to “turn back the clock to a less secure time” in the row over iPhone unlocking.
In an opinion piece published in the Washington Post, head of software engineering Craig Federighi called the US authorities’ attempts to force Apple to create new software that could help unlock an iPhone “disappointing”, adding doing so could let hackers “wreak havoc” on users.
Last month, a US magistrate ruled that Apple must aid law enforcement in the unlocking of the iPhone of Syed Farook, a gunman who took part in the San Bernardino terror shooting in California last year in which 14 people were killed. Farook was killed during a shootout with police but his locked iPhone was recovered. Authorities believe it could hold vital information on the attack, and believe Apple should help them – something the technology giant is refusing to do over security and data privacy fears.
“It’s so disappointing that the FBI, Justice Department and others in law enforcement are pressing us to turn back the clock to a less-secure time and less-secure technologies,” said Federighi.
“They have suggested that the safeguards of iOS 7 were good enough and that we should simply go back to the security standards of 2013. But the security of iOS 7, while cutting-edge at the time, has since been breached by hackers. What’s worse, some of their methods have been productised and are now available for sale to attackers who are less skilled but often more malicious.”
Federighi added that the tool the US government wishes Apple to create would give cyber criminals an advantage they should not have.
“To get around Apple’s safeguards, the FBI wants us to create a back door in the form of special software that bypasses passcode protections, intentionally creating a vulnerability that would let the government force its way into an iPhone.
“Once created, this software — which law enforcement has conceded it wants to apply to many iPhones — would become a weakness that hackers and criminals could use to wreak havoc on the privacy and personal safety of us all.”
Apple has been widely backed by other major technology firms including Facebook, Google and Microsoft, as well as civil liberties groups, ahead of another court hearing on March 22.
“Security is an endless race — one that you can lead but never decisively win,” added Federighi.
“Yesterday’s best defences cannot fend off the attacks of today or tomorrow. Software innovations of the future will depend on the foundation of strong device security. We cannot afford to fall behind those who would exploit technology in order to cause chaos. To slow our pace, or reverse our progress, puts everyone at risk.”
