GoKawiilMagnet Forensics tools reportedly bypass iPhone's 72-hour reboot lock
404 Media reports it has viewed a law enforcement training video showing Magnet Forensics' GrayKey Preserve tool and a new Evidence Preservation Mode that can work around Apple's inactivity reboot feature, which normally restarts iPhones after 72 hours of being locked. The video reportedly shows the tools keeping a device in an 'After First Unlock' state even after a reboot, and claims they can also stop automatic deletion of certain cached data like locations, messages and photos.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
If accurate, the workaround would undercut a security feature Apple added specifically to limit forensic access to locked phones, potentially restoring law enforcement's ability to extract data that was previously considered protected after extended inactivity. This comes amid ongoing scrutiny of how aggressively police and federal agencies use forensic tools, raising questions about oversight of such capabilities going forward.
- A training video reportedly shows Magnet Forensics' GrayKey tools bypassing Apple's 72-hour inactivity reboot protection.
- The method allegedly keeps iPhones in an 'After First Unlock' state, which exposes more data than the locked 'Before First Unlock' state.
- The tools reportedly also claim to block automatic deletion of cached locations, deleted messages, and photos.
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See Apple iPhone with Face ID case on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Anna Washenko, 2026-10-01
Published there as: “Police may have new ways to access data on locked iPhones”
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