Police tool bypasses iOS security feature to access iPhone data
Magnet Forensics claims its GrayKey device can now bypass Apple's Inactivity Reboot security feature on iPhones used by law enforcement.
New exploit allows data access
A company working with law enforcement says it has developed a workaround to sidestep a key iOS security feature. This tool lets users extract sensitive information from an iPhone without the owner's permission. The capability reportedly exists and has been used since early 2025.
Inactivity Reboot function explained
Apple's Inactivity Reboot feature automatically restarts a phone if it remains locked for seventy-two hours. This action moves the device into a secure state called Before First Unlock that protects data with encryption keys. Accessing this encrypted data requires entering the device passcode to switch the phone to a less secure state.
Device freezes phone in AFU
Magnet Forensics states its tool can freeze an iPhone while it is in the After First Unlock mod. This action prevents the device from returning to the more secure Before First Unlock state automatically. The report suggests this method allows extraction of private data that was previously protected by the reboot cycle.
Reported by one outlet
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