After the FBI raided a Washington Post reporter’s home and seized multiple devices, Lockdown Mode prevented them from accessing her iPhone. Here are the details.
The FBI is unable to access data from the reporter’s iPhone
like reported by 404 MediaThe FBI raided the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Nathanson earlier this year, “as part of a investigation in leaks of classified information.”
of Nathanson profile page The Washington Post website notes that she has “covered Trump’s reshaping of the federal government and its effects” and that she “was part of a team of Post reporters that was awarded the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the January 6 uprising at the U.S. Capitol.”
During an FBI raid last January, agents seized numerous electronic devices at Natanson’s home, including a MacBook Pro and an iPhone 13.
However, the FBI’s Computer Analysis Response Team (CART) was unable to extract data from the iPhone thanks to the system’s Lockdown mode, which “helps protect devices against extremely rare and highly sophisticated cyberattacks,” according to Apple’s description.
“Because the iPhone was in Lockdown mode, CART could not retrieve that device,” the court filing states, referring to the FBI’s Computer Analysis Response Team, a unit focused on conducting forensic analysis of seized devices. The document was written by the government and is opposing the return of Natanson’s equipment.
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The court filing mentioning the lockdown mode was filed on January 30, about two weeks after the FBI raided Natanson’s residence, indicating that the FBI was unable to access the iPhone during that time.
In practice, this means that, until the filing of the report, CART had not been able to exfiltrate data due to the iPhone’s locked mode, but it is impossible to know whether they have been able to access the device.
More in lock mode
Here’s how Apple explains the feature, which is available on iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or later, watchOS 10 or later, and macOS Ventura or later:
Block Mode is an optional, extreme protection designed for the very few individuals who, because of who they are or what they do, may be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats. Most people are never the target of attacks of this nature.
When Lock Mode is activated, your device will not work as it normally does. To reduce the attack surface that can be exploited by highly targeted mercenary spyware, some apps, websites and features are strictly limited for security, and some experiences may not be available at all.
Lockdown mode restricts a wide range of system functions and connections, including blocking most message attachments, restricting certain web browsing technologies, restricting FaceTime calls from unknown contacts, preventing device connections unless the device is unlocked, and disabling configuration profiles and device management logging.
To learn more about block mode, follow this link.
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