We are well aware of the approach hackers adopt to get past a locked device. However, what happens when the legal system needs to do the same in order to contribute to the greater good?
The UK Metropolitan Police reportedly faced a similar situation. In order to avoid a case similar to FBI’s when Apple refused to help unlock an iPhone used by a terrorist; they adopted a pretty unique way to stay accessed to the criminal’s device.
According to a report published by BBC, the UK police tracked down a suspect and waited for him to make a phone call. When the suspect did, they mugged him in the middle of a street and an officer took charge of preventing the iPhone from getting locked. He essentially kept swiping through screens and maintaining the device active until the investigators managed to extract all data.
The suspect’s iPhone reportedly played an essential role in the process of investigation of that particular case. The crime involved using fake credit cards to purchase expensive goods which were then sold in UK for cash. The Police believed that the information obtained from the device would help them with the case.
Apple hasn’t made any official statements on this case.
