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The FBI may not need Apple’s help to unlock an iPhone after all

Johns Hopkins professor Matthew Green broke the encryption on the iMessage system.

Federal authorities say someone outside the government has figured out a way to break into the phone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters — and may not need Apple’s help anymore.

The FBI and Apple were scheduled to meet in court today in San Francisco, at a hearing over whether Apple should be compelled to help the FBI break into the locked phone, but the FBI abruptly called off the hearing.

That move came just a day after researchers at Johns Hopkins University said they had broken the encryption on Apple’s iMessage system and could intercept photos and videos.

Matthew Green is an assistant professor at JHU Information Security Institute and led the research team, and he spoke to us about his findings.

Click the audio player above to hear more.

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