Magnet Forensics tools reportedly bypass iPhone inactivity reboot safeguards
Apple introduced an inactivity reboot feature in 2024 that automatically restarts iPhones if left unlocked for over 72 hours, significantly restricting law enforcement access to data on locked devices. However, a training video reportedly demonstrates that Magnet Forensics has developed tools capable of circumventing this security feature. This development marks a significant moment in the ongoing tension between device privacy and law enforcement needs.
Magnet Forensics' tools can reportedly place iPhones into a state called After First Unlock, which grants access to more data than would normally be available. According to the training video, the company has developed both a new GrayKey Preserve tool and an Evidence Preservation Mode specifically for this purpose. Additionally, Magnet claims its products can prevent the automatic deletion of certain data types, including cached locations and recently deleted messages.
- Police tools may bypass Apple's 72-hour inactivity reboot security feature
- Magnet Forensics claims new GrayKey products can access locked iPhone data
- Development raises privacy concerns amid scrutiny of law enforcement practices
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Apple introduced an automatic restart feature for iPhones in 2024 that activates if a phone is left unlocked and unused for longer than 72 hours. Once restarted, the iPhone becomes locked, making it far more difficult for anyone without the correct password to access the personal data stored on it.
Magnet Forensics is a company that makes software tools used by police and other investigators to extract data from mobile devices and computers. The ability to access locked iPhones has long been crucial to law enforcement investigations, so Apple's automatic restart feature represented a significant obstacle to their work.
The automatic restart feature reflects a broader tension between protecting people's privacy and enabling law enforcement investigations. Apple's approach prioritises user security by making it harder for anyone to access phones without permission. This tension between privacy protection and law enforcement capabilities has become increasingly significant as smartphones store more sensitive personal information.
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Originally published by Engadget as “Police may have new ways to access data on locked iPhones”.