Hacker News Reader

This might be a good scenario for Apple. Apple doesn't have to build a backdoor, which is good for PR, and the Feds got what they want to they'll stop bothering Apple. Which is the position Android/Google was in all along.

View on HN

So the tinfoil hat theory here is that Apple itself leaks the cracking tech to Cellobrite to ease the fed pressure, and keep reputation intact? Sorry, I don't buy it.

No one at Apple would share source code? You never heard of iBoot.

That's not really the strongest interpretation of GP's statement. It wasn't implying that nobody would ever share source code for any reason, but that the company would deliberately decide to share source code in order to obtain fly-by-night compliance with government requests while maintaining its public image.

That happens all the time too, and I'm sure Apple is no exception. Want to score that big NSA storage contract? Pony up your HDD firmware... for "security assurances." Suddenly, NSA has exploits for all 7 major HDD manufacturers.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/nsa-hid-spying-software-in...

Hmm, how did Apple get cleared for DOD use?

http://www.zdnet.com/article/iphones-ipads-cleared-for-u-s-m...

What process would be required for that? Hmmmm.

I'm not suggesting any theories. I'm just pointing out that Apple isn't really in a terrible position because of this news.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com