Re:Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case
by harryh on Saturday February 27, 2016 @09:39AM
(#11187176)
I won't cost 50 million dollars to comment out a few lines of code and recompile the OS. That reporter has no idea what they're talking about.
Re:Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case
by criddell on Saturday February 27, 2016 @10:52AM
(#11187395)
To be fair, neither do you.
Re:Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case
by harryh on Saturday February 27, 2016 @11:20AM
(#11187502)
Sure I do. I've been a professional programmer for almost 20 years. I have a pretty good idea about what sorts of things are hard to do and what sorts of things are easy to do. The FBI's requests are very easy. 50M is ~200 man years of work. That number is insane.
Re:Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case
by criddell on Saturday February 27, 2016 @12:08PM
(#11187663)
Have you ever worked some place that requires a security clearance?
Well, for Apple to develop this software, they would insist on it being developed in a locked down facility that doesn't currently exist (what Apple has is in use). I think they have said it's only about $100,000 of developer time (so maybe 2-3 months of work), but the infrastructure that would be necessary for the work to be done in a way that doesn't risk any leaks is expensive.
Re:Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case
by harryh on Saturday February 27, 2016 @04:07PM
(#11188501)
Can you make up some more facts about Apple's real estate situation and software methodology?
The chance of there being anything valuable on that phone is pretty slim. Especially when you consider how much the government is willing to spend on it. I was just watching CNN and Apple has apparently detailed what it would take before they would consider writing the compromised version of the OS. The reporter claims it would cost about $50 million and the government has apparently said "no problem, we can pay that". Ugh.