Apple Inc. and security almost come hand in hand with each other. As one of the world's leading tech companies, the Cupertino giant is known to produce gadgets that are high in privacy protection features. Apart from that, the company is also known for strict security settings of its operating system, which has been upgraded further with the release of the iOS 9.
The company has been known to stress consumers' right to privacy. It is constantly been providing updates to better its devices' security. The newer operating systems are said to be so secure that Apple has been reported to have told a New York federal magistrate judge that it is 'impossible' to unlock Apple devices using the latest operating systems. A BBC report says that 90 percent of Apple devices which use iOS 8 or higher cannot be unlocked even by Apple itself.
Apple, however, can help in unlocking devices using the older operating systems. The company has said these about its smartphones following a US Department of Justice's request that Apple Inc. help prosecutors unlock a seized iPhone. Apple has refused to unlock the device in question. "Forcing Apple to extract data in this case, absent clear legal authority to do so, could threaten the trust between Apple and its customers and substantially tarnish the Apple brand," the company said in a briefing.
The briefing was held on Monday, Oct. 19. The company said that it has enhanced the encryption methods of its newer devices, and unlocking them will be impossible without the use of passwords. Brooklyn, New York magistrate Judge James Orenstein has scheduled a hearing on Thursday, Oct. 22. It is unclear whether an Apple representative will be present.
Apple also recently removed more than 250 apps from its App Store after the said programs have been found to access private user data. The apps have been found to use a software developer kit provided by Youmi, a Chinese advertiser.
