“The iPhone at the center of the ongoing legal battle between Apple and the FBI may hold a ‘dormant cyber pathogen’ that could cripple San Bernardino, according to the county’s District Attorney,” Rich McCormick reports for The Verge.
“Michael Ramos’ court filing ascertains that the iPhone, provided to San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook by his employers, ‘may contain evidence that can only be found on the seized phone that it was used as a weapon to introduce a lying dormant cyber pathogen that endangers San Bernardino’s infrastructure,'” McCormick reports. “Well, that certainly sounds scary! A malicious electronic disease held in check only by the joint forces of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Apple’s passcode screen? ”
“Ramos has gone for the nuclear option here — as everyone knows, affixing the word ‘cyber’ to anything makes it ten times more ominous, while also having the effect of convincing people you know what you’re talking about when it comes to technology,” McCormick reports. “Sadly for Ramos, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Speaking to Ars Technica, iPhone forensics expert Jonathan Zdziarski said that in describing a ‘dormant cyber pathogen,’ Ramos might as well be talking about a magical unicorn that he swears exists on his phone.”
Read more in the full article here.
“The district attorney’s position comes a week after Jarrod Burguan, the San Bernardino police chief, said there was a ‘reasonably good chance that there is nothing of any value on the phone,'” David Kravets reports for Ars Technica. “The county declined to directly comment. A spokesman, David Wert, told Ars in an e-mail that ‘The county didn’t have anything to do with this brief. It was filed by the district attorney.'”
Kravets reports, “The DA’s office, which did not immediately respond for comment, followed up with a statement to Ars, saying that there is a ‘compelling governmental interest in acquiring any evidence of criminal conduct, additional perpetrators, potential damage to the infrastructure of San Bernardino County, and in protecting the California Constitutionally guaranteed due process rights of the victims, deceased and living, arising from state crimes committed on December 2, 2015.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Hey San Bernadino County: We’re all for employing the mentally disabled, but you might want to draw the line somewhere before District Attorney.
This issue works wonders when it comes to starkly illuminating the dividing line between the left and right sides of The Bell Curve.
Nearly all of the intelligent people support Apple’s position while the short-sighted mouth-breather contingent line up like lemmings for more U.S. government overreach.
SEE ALSO:
U.N. Human Rights Commissioner: U.S. government risks opening a Pandora’s Box in Apple iPhone case – March 4, 2016
Former U.S. Homeland Security Chief: iPhone override would be software equivalent of biological weapon – March 4, 2016
U.S. Congressman introduces bill to forbid federal agencies from purchasing Apple products until company unlocks terrorist’s iPhone – March 3, 2016
Apple is racking up supporters in privacy fight against U.S. government overreach – March 3, 2016
Husband of San Bernardino terrorism victim backs Apple vs. U.S. government overreach – March 3, 2016
Over 40 companies to back Apple vs. U.S. government overreach; beleaguered Samsung still thinking about it – March 3, 2016
Apple posts amicus briefs in support of Apple vs. U.S. government overreach – March 3, 2016
U.S. Defense Secretary says strong encryption essential to national security, not a believer in back doors – March 3, 2016
Apple digs in for long fight against U.S. government overreach: ‘There is no middle ground’ – March 3, 2016
ACLU, other privacy groups urge U.S. judge to support Apple vs. U.S. government in iPhone case – March 2, 2016
Apple scored the knockout punch against FBI in House Judiciary Committee hearing – March 2, 2016
Within an hour of Malaysia Flight 370 disappearing, Apple was working with officials to locate it – March 2, 2016
John McAfee reveals how the FBI can unlock an iPhone in 30 minutes – March 2, 2016
Can the FBI force a company to break into its own products? No, says U.S. Magistrate – March 2, 2016
Apple CEO Cook decried Obama’s ‘lack of leadership’ on encryption during a closed-door meeting last month – February 29, 2016
Obama administration set to expand sharing of data that N.S.A. intercepts – February 28, 2016
Apple’s fight with U.S. could speed development of devices impervious to government intrusion – February 24, 2016
Petition asks Obama administration to stop demanding Apple create iPhone backdoor – February 19, 2016
Obama administration claims FBI is not asking Apple for a ‘backdoor’ to the iPhone – February 18, 2016
Obama administration wants access to smartphones – December 15, 2015
Obama administration war against Apple just got uglier – July 31, 2015
Obama’s secret attempt to ban cellphone unlocking, while claiming to support it – November 19, 2013