Why Is The U.S. Government Stocking Up On iPhone Hacking Tools?

screenrant.com:

An astonishing 14 out of 15 U.S. Cabinet departments have reportedly purchased tools made by a company called Cellebrite that allows them to break intoiPhones without Apple’s assistance. Cellebrite first came to the limelight in 2016 when it was rumored that the FBI had used its tech to unlock the iPhones of criminals behind the San Bernandino mass shooting. But the company eventually found buyers in police departments, customs officials, FBI and even the Air Force.

The iPhone-breaking tool it offers is a kit called UFED, short for Universal Forensic Extraction Device, that includes both hardware and standalone analytics software. Millions of dollars are reportedly spent on the kit from taxpayer money. However, Cellebrite is not the only name in the game. The product offered by another company called Grayshift has also been known to wade past iPhone security. But it appears that Cellebrite’s influence has only grown since.

Related: How To Factory Reset An iPhone When Locked Out

Per a report from The Intercept, the list of departments that have purchased Cellebrite’s technology includes some unexpected names like Fish and Wildlife, Education, and Veterans Affairs — none of which are particularly known for handling crimes that require them to break into a bad actor’s iPhone. Cellebrite says its SEC filing has more than 2,800 government customers in North America. Plus, it also joined hands with secret service agents, law enforcement officials and associations, and prosecutors, providing the necessary training for using its controversial product. The findings are not surprising, as the FBI recently admitted that it tested the notorious Pegasus spyware that surveillance agencies have widely abused and even tested a variant