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How The FBI Easily Retrieved Michael Cohen's Data From Both Apple and Google (cnn.com)

Court documents unsealed Tuesday showed just how much information America's FBI was able to gather on Donald Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen -- from both Google and Apple products. An anonymous reader quotes CNN: Notably, the FBI made use of Cohen's use of Touch ID and Face ID on his Apple devices, which allow users to quickly log into iPhones and computers by scanning their face or fingerprint rather than typing in a password... But that gives law enforcement an additional means to access those devices. In one warrant application for Cohen, an FBI agent requested authorization "to press the fingers (including thumbs) of Cohen to the Touch ID sensors of the Subject Devices, or hold the Subject Devices in front of Cohen's face, for the purpose of attempting to unlock the Subject Devices via Touch ID or Face ID...."

One warrant requested not simply access to three of Cohen's Gmail accounts, as well as other email accounts, but also some of the wide array of information Google keeps for its users by default, including search history, web cookies associated with an account, device information, and a host of other metadata categories. One affidavit describes how the FBI narrowed down Cohen's temporary location at the Loews Regency Hotel in New York through his cell phone location data. Agents then used a "triggerfish" -- a reference to a stingray, or IMSI catcher, a suitcase-sized device that mimics a cell tower to convince a cell phone to connect and reveal its location...

Prosecutors also made use of a new law that Trump recently signed. Investigators in the Southern District of New York compelled Google to turn over some documents on Cohen, but the tech giant initially "declined to produce data that it stored on computer servers located outside of the United States," according to an affidavit submitted to the court by an FBI agent working on Cohen's case. Weeks later, Trump signed the CLOUD Act into law, which gave US law enforcement more legal pathways to pursue data stories overseas.... In an April 2018 affidavit, the FBI agent argued that "providers are required to disclose data even if it is stored abroad" under the new law. The judge approved the new search warrant later that day, giving investigators access to additional information from Google, including Cohen's emails, attachments, address book and files stored on Google Drive.

One technology law expert told CNN that police now seek access to more and more information.

"I think any of the electronic debris that people leave online on these services is all potentially subject to being used against you."

3 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Re:President Trump owned the libs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    Sealed Indictment :An indictment can be sealed so that it stays non-public until it is unsealed. This can be done for a number of reasons. It may be unsealed, for example, once the named person is arrested or has been notified by police.

    Even Fox News agrees with me : Fox News’ Chris Wallace: Rudy Giuliani ‘Awfully Optimistic’ To Think Mueller Probe Is Over
    The attorney’s conclusion that the special counsel’s report is good news for President Trump is premature, the Fox News host warned.

    Bring lube, traitor, when they come for you with the shiny bracelets. Keep mentioning Hillary when you go to prison, try for a crazy defense. Keep trying to fuck your ugly daughter meanwhile I guess.

    Before they take you off to die in prison a traitor.

  2. Re:Why would anybody trust a mobile listening devi by gweihir · · Score: 1, Informative

    Are you deranged? Why would I not use anything just because it is not trustworthy? Listen, moron, here is how you do it: You use it but you do not trust it. Takes two brain cells to rub together to see that though and you clearly do not have them.

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    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  3. Re:Passwords Still Rule by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 3, Informative

    iPhone users, read this. There are ways to quickly disable the fingerpint scanner and Face ID using the physical buttons on the phone. Easy to do quickly and quietly in case you get arrested. It can also be done through Siri. And Android phones have a similar mechanism I am told.

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    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...