More than 1.34 million dollars to hack an iPhone 5C: 'But it is worth it'

James Comey, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), gave some clues on the cost of the operation carried out by the Agency on the iPhone 5C Syed Farook, the bomber of the San Bernardino massacre. Apple itself has refused to cooperate with the US authorities on the case, triggering a strong political debate in defense of privacy and consumer rights. The release of the terminal has cost the US more than 1.34 million dollars as revealed by Comey.

This was revealed by Reuters, which stated that the FBI paid a higher cash amount to the salary the same Comey will receive until the end of his term, which will expire in seven years and four months. His annual salary is $ 183,300 that result, no increases or various kinds of bonuses, for a total of 1.34 million dollars in the period specified above. To say it was the same Comey inside the Aspen Security Forum in London.

"A moderator asked Comey the amount of money paid by the FBI for software that has penetrated the defenses of the iPhone," reads the article by Reuters. And the answer was: "A lot. More than you earn until the end of this work, a time period of seven years and four months." However the same Comey stated that in his opinion "it is worth it."

According to some anonymous official of the police's iPhone Farook it contained no sensitive information can provide new tracks to follow in the investigation, however, has helped to clarify some aspects of the killing. Farook has not come into contact with other people after the attack, suggesting that he and his wife have not had support of friends or family. Apparently the sum would be paid to professional hackers and not to external companies.

One of these is a "gray hat" researcher who sells security vulnerabilities to governments, groups working in the black market or to companies that create monitoring instruments. However it discovered the method does not work on the latest iPhone iPhone 5C, however, the FBI (and who has the exploit) can continue to access any iPhone 5C or lower, even with iOS 9 installed.