Earlier this week, news broke that the FBI had successfully unlocked the phone of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man responsible for the recent shooting incident at a Trump rally. The FBI had initially struggled to access the locked phone but eventually managed to unlock it with the help of Cellebrite software.
According to a report by Bloomberg, Crooks was found to be using a newer Samsung model that runs on Android’s operating system. After the FBI’s initial attempt to unlock the phone using Cellebrite software failed, they sought additional technical support from Cellebrite, who provided them with new software that was still in development. With this new software, the FBI was able to unlock the phone in just 40 minutes.
The phone reportedly contained photos of former President Trump, President Biden, and other officials, as well as searches for information on major depressive disorder. This revelation sheds light on Crooks’ state of mind and possible motivations behind the shooting incident.
In a separate development, it was revealed that Cellebrite is currently unable to unlock iPhones running on iOS 17.4 and later. This poses a challenge for law enforcement agencies looking to access information on these devices. While there are exceptions for certain iPhone models due to hardware vulnerabilities, the majority of iPhones running on iOS 17.1 to 17.3.1 remain inaccessible to Cellebrite.
This latest development highlights the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement agencies and technology companies when it comes to accessing encrypted devices. As technology continues to advance, it becomes increasingly difficult for authorities to bypass security measures and access crucial information stored on digital devices.
Overall, the successful unlocking of Crooks’ phone by the FBI showcases the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and technology companies in solving high-profile cases. It also raises questions about the balance between privacy and national security in an increasingly digital world.