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The latest version of iOS by Apple would have turned the GrayKey hacking device into an expensive door. Law enforcement forces around the world have started using GrayKey to crack locked iPhones, but it seems like Apple has finally taken some of the nifty manufacturers out of the device. For the moment.
Forbes' Thomas Brewster has been at the top of the GrayKey saga since the beginning. On Wednesday, he cited sources in the scientific community who told him that Apple's efforts to prevent bad actors and law enforcement from imposing on its users' phones have paid off. According to the report, the $ 15,000 tool manufactured by a shady company called Grayshift is now only able to perform a "partial extraction" of data. It can extract some unencrypted files and some metadata that are worth virtually nothing.
Captain John Sherwin of the Rochester Police Department in Minnesota, one of the sources on Forbes' record, confirmed that the release of iOS 12 prevented GrayKey from unlocking a phone. "It's a pretty accurate assessment of what we've been through," he told Forbes.
It is still unclear what exact change could have been made to prohibit access to GrayKey. Previous reports had taught us that the tool was using a workaround to clear a path by guessing a user's password until they understood it correctly. Apple has put in place protections to end this kind of tactics and GrayShift's methods are a well-kept secret. We know little about society. In March, Forbes announced that GrayShift had at least one former Apple security engineer on its team. You can not even go to your website without giving a login to law enforcement, although there is some evidence that it also works with private entities.
With iOS 12, Apple implemented a much-needed change called "USB Restricted Mode". It cuts access to the iPhone Lightning port if it has not been unlocked by a user in the last hour. It was generally thought that this was Apple's solution to thwart companies like GrayShift and Cellebrite, but we do not know for sure if it worked. Apple did not return our request for comment.
Whether it's the solution or not, you can verify that your phone is configured for restricted USB mode. You must be updated for iOS 12 and go to Settings> Face ID and Code. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you want your settings to look like this:
It's unclear whether GrayShift's competitors have come up against a wall in their efforts to undermine Apple's security. It's a big deal and we can expect anyone who loses his cash cow to work overtime to find another workaround.
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