FBI Paid $900,000 to Unlock iPhone

Following a terrorist attack in San Bernardino in early 2016, there was a huge discussion about the legality and implications of the FBI requesting Apple, the mobile device manufacturer, to unencrypt or ‘crack’ an iPhone 5C during the investigation. Apple refused and held firm to their decision in not creating a backdoor piece of software that would surpass the security protections put in place on their iOS stating concerns for the privacy of millions of different users of the iPhone and iPad product.

While working directly with the manufacturer no longer became a viable option, the FBI contacted another entity whom cracked the iPhone in question granting the FBI access. While the specific cost associated was never released, recently Senator Dianne Feinstein revealed that it actually cost $900,000 to obtain access.

Some may recall that the initial estimate was over one million dollars, guessed to be at $1.3 Million based upon the comments from FBI Director James Comey when he said that the cost to the FBI was greater that what he’d make in the seven years prior to his retirement. Although Reuters did the math based upon his publicized salary, that figure was not accurate.