No iPhone is Safe from the FBI

Image credit: Macitynet.it

The US government has successfully accessed data stored on the San Bernardino gunman's iPhone, thus ending a six week-long clash between Apple and the FBI. Apple were refusing to unlock the device, citing privacy issues, however the FBI enlisted a third-party company to do the job for them. But the question remains, could a law enforcement agency have forced Apple to unlock the device?

This definitely won't be the first or the last Apple device that the FBI will want to crack, in fact it has been reported that there are a dozen other cases where the law enforcement agency want access to an individual's personal device. Does this now mean that the FBI can access any iPhone with a passcode? 

Originally, the court order filed by the FBI had instructed Apple to come up a new version of it's operating system that would have prevented the iPhone from deleting its data or imposing long lock out periods if too many incorrect passcodes were entered. It's important to note that the latest court filings do not say that someone else has now done this, but merely that a third-party company had helped the FBI to retrieve some data stored on the device. 

The firm who reportedly helped the FBI with the case is called Cellebrite and they had previously discussed bypassing the passcode lock rather than trying to figure out the number. However, by doing this it would yield a limited amount of handset data and even if it works once, Apple upgrade their software regularly, so it might not work again if security fixes have been made. 

Theresa May is also intending to bring in a new surveillance law that will make tech firms hand over information if the law enforcement requests it through "equipment interference warrants". 

While it is always going to be possible that someone could hack into your phone, it doesn't mean that you should make it easy for them. Update the iOS software as soon as Apple releases it and use encryption-enabled apps to digitally scramble data. 

Feeling a little unsure of your company's security? Get in touch with 360ict today for more information on how to keep your business secure. 

360ict provides managed IT services and support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Croydon and Bromley. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website. 

Apple Pay: A Fad Or The Future Of Real-World Payments?

Apple Pay went live in the UK this week.

The UK is the first country outside the US to get Apple Pay, but what exactly is it? Apple markets the Apple Pay as a high-tech service that provides a hassle free credit and debit card alternative. No more cards that could be stolen or lost, just a phone to make all payments? Sounds good so far. Apple, however, are not the first to try the digital wallet, but they are the first to get such a large backing from UK businesses. 

There are more than 250,000 locations in the UK that are set up to accept Apple Pay, with support from RBS, Natwest, Lloyds, Halifax and Santander. Once a user has added their payment card details from one of the supported banks, they can buy things from real-world locations by using just their iPhone. To trigger a payment the shopper must tap their phone on one of the contactless readers already used in the UK for tap-and-go sales. The handset’s fingerprint sensor confirms the user’s identity.  

Incorporating Apple Pay into the daily running of a business may be big news in the UK, but some countries are far more advanced when it comes to these sorts of payments. Dan Wagner, CEO of Powa Technologies, is working with Denmark’s Danske Bank to help it usher in a new level of payments freedom in the country. He stated recently that “anyone wanting a glimpse of the future of cashless payments need only look overseas to Denmark, which has the lowest cash payment level in Europe and is currently considering removing obligation for some retailers to accept cash at all.”

It will take time for the UK to catch-up with Denmark, but businesses need to be ready for a new era. "Rather than seeing it as a challenge, they should take it as an opportunity to rethink their strategy," says Wagner. "Taking physical cash out of the equation creates a huge amount of freedom, enabling them to completely restructure the retail experience and do away with cumbersome tills and queues entirely.” 

We predict that with the release of Apple Pay, contactless payments will fast become the most used form of payment in the UK. Is your company on track to move into this new era of cashless payments? 


360ict provides managed IT services and emergency IT support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Bromley and Croydon. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website.