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Report: FBI actually paid less than $1 million for tool to unlock San Bernardino iPhone

In a new report, Reuters this evening is claiming that the FBI paid less than $1 million for the tool it used to unlock the San Bernardino gunman’s iPhone 5c. Apple, of course, denied to create a tool to do so, so the FBI went through a third-party to gain access. The report, citing “several U.S. government sources,” further claims that the technique can be used on any iPhone 5c running iOS 9.

It was initially believed that the FBI paid at least $1.3 million to gain access to the device, as FBI director James Comey said it cost “more than I will make in the remainder of this job, which is seven years and four months.” Before that, it was believed that the United States used Cellebrite to unlock the iPhone 5c. It was speculated that a one-time $15,000 transaction occurred between Apple and the Israeli company for the unlock tool.

It has widely been rumored that the method the FBI used will only work on devices prior to the iPhone 5s, and today’s report corroborates that, saying that the only devices on which the tool will work are iPhone 5c models running iOS 9. What’s interesting to note, however, is that it’s apparently the FBI that now holds access to the tool. While theoretically it could attempt to use it in other cases, the report adds that the government organization “does not know the details of how it works.”

It also appears as if the people who know who the tool came from are few and far between. Apparently, that detail is kept so secretive that not even James Comey knows who provided the mechanism.

Earlier this month it was reported that even though the FBI has not find any new data on the San Bernardino iPhone 5c, it was still helpful in the long run. Because of data on the iPhone 5c – or lack thereof – the FBI is now confident that terrorist Syed Farook did not make contact with any other plotters during an 18 minute gap that it has yet to fill in.

The FBI and Apple once again faced off in Congress last week to discuss encryption. You can watch that video here.

Image via iDownloadBlog

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Comments

  1. PhilBoogie - 8 years ago

    I’d like to see Mr. Comey be relieved of duty.

  2. alanaudio - 8 years ago

    It’s hard to see how this tool could be used to gather evidence that might be presented in court for future cases.

    The FBI say that they don’t know how it works, so therefore they wouldn’t be able to satisfy a court that the techniques used were forensically valid. They would not be able to explain what data was modified on the iPhone involved and they would not be able to prove that the data gathered was not tainted. Any lawyer would have a field day if the prosecutor said that they have some evidence, but don’t know exactly how they got it and can’t prove that it has not been altered in any way.

    At best, they’ve spent a million on a tool that can only be used to extract data from one discontinued model of iPhone and while that data might provide leads for further investigation, it is unlikely to be admissible in court.

  3. 89p13 - 8 years ago

    OK – I’ll admit to it – I unlocked the phone for the fbi!

    I told them I unlocked it – there was absolutely NO incriminating evidence on it, just a list of to do projects from San Bernadino – and then gave it back to them.

    I never showed them how I unlocked it (pssst . . . . I never did) – I just told them I did. I am, however, still waiting for the check to clear my bank – should it really take 3 weeks for a US Government check to clear?

    YMMV

  4. giuseppe9000 - 8 years ago

    first news: FBI paid 1m!

    past news: FBI paid 1.3m!

    current news: FBI paid less that 1m!

    next news: FBI paid more than $768950!

    next after next news: FBI paid gigabillion……

    who cares!

    • PhilBoogie - 8 years ago

      When it comes to the Federal Bureau of iPhones, I think any John would care¡

    • transamken - 8 years ago

      Anything to keep the tax payers who paid for this bull crap at bay.

  5. chrrup - 8 years ago

    So you’re saying that the FBI spent about $1,000,000 of our (taxpayer’s) money to get no usable information? Government in action!

  6. John Smith - 8 years ago

    Invoice Apple for cost to the US tax payer ?

    Not really fair that ordinary people and small businesses – who pay their fair share of tax – should end up landed with a bill which only happened because a very large very rich corporation – who pay very little tax – obstructed a murder investigation.

    • PhilBoogie - 8 years ago

      Actually Apple didn’t obstruct but were very helpful in the investigation. I can’t help but to wonder why it is so difficult for someone like you to read up on a story they so vehemently wish to respond to, but only in a negative way, without taking all facts into consideration.

    • Jake Becker - 8 years ago

      Taxation is theft and law enforcement are criminals. :)

    • flaviosuave - 8 years ago

      I am invoicing you for the time we have all wasted having to read and/or scroll past your stupid, ignorant comments.

  7. Jake Becker - 8 years ago

    “FBI director James Comey said it cost “more than I will make in the remainder of this job, which is seven years and four months.”

    Somebody get the man a blankie….

  8. DanG (@Ingila_Bear) - 8 years ago

    so FBI wasted $999,999.99

  9. Jake Becker - 8 years ago

    They paid about tree-fiddy.

  10. drtyrell969 - 8 years ago

    All they found out was that it was an inside job. LOL.

Author

Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

Tips, questions, typos to chance@9to5mac.com