Apple is in the clear, for now. The Department of Defense finally dropped the encryption case after multiple court motions, congressional hearings, and public unrest over whether or not Tim Cook must grant the government access to the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone 5c. This doesn’t mean Apple has won the encryption battle. The FBI found a way to access the iPhone’s data without Tim Cook’s help instead. The DoJ may have reason to continue the case if they can’t find the same encryption vulnerability in newer iPhone models.
The FBI has reportedly been working with a third-party that was successfully able to break Apple’s encryption without Tim Cook’s authorization. The court then vacated the motion ordering Apple to assist agents in accessing data from shooter Syed Rizwan Farook’s iPhone.
“The government has now successfully accessed the data stored on Farook's iPhone and therefore no longer requires the assistance from Apple Inc. mandated by Court's Order Compelling Apple Inc. to Assist Agents in Search dated February 16, 201,” the DoJ’s motion states.
The government cancelled the March 22 hearing after the unknown third-party successfully accessed the smartphone’s data. Apple’s attorneys said if the DoJ didn’t withdraw legal action, they want to know how the FBI managed to hack into the iPhone. However, since the case has been dissolved, Apple can’t file for more information about the exploit. According to The Guardian , the crack the third-party used has already been classified.
