Apple Resolves Lightning Port Loophole That Allows Police to Collect iPhone Data

Many smartphone users' device of choice is the iPhone. With this, it is not surprising that the data stored on iPhones can prove useful to law enforcement officers working on a case.

The process of accessing Phone data, whether legally or not, may begin by connecting the mobile device to another computer through its lightning port. And Apple said on Wednesday that it is going to fix that.

Apple told Reuters that it is working on changing default iOS settings, which will ultimately disallow unauthorized individuals from gathering data through the lightning port. The patch will reportedly leave anyone without authorization unable to open an iPhone that has not been used or activated within the past hour.

It was further explained that the lightning port, in its current state, allows tools from forensic companies to trick the security walls of an iPhone, preventing a device from being deactivated after running some password attempts. With the said update, these tools can no longer work using the lightning port even when attackers run a code to manipulate a device.

Apple said that the promised update is especially meant for iPhone users from different countries where law enforcement agencies are allowed to easily gather iPhone data with the help of more lenient policies, as compared to what is followed in the United States.

“We’re constantly strengthening the security protections in every Apple product to help customers defend against hackers, identity thieves and intrusions into their personal data,” Apple said in a statement. “We have the greatest respect for law enforcement, and we don’t design our security improvements to frustrate their efforts to do their jobs.”

Apple said that this security update is also its way of protecting customers from illicit entities, such as hackers and spies, from targeting iPhone users. The same Reuters report said this update had been in development even before Apple realized that the lightning port method is a staple process used in police investigations.