Pro-Apple protest against FBI in New York

New York: A group of protesters assembled outside Apple's flagship store because of FBI's attempt to install software with backdoors in all of Apple's iPhones.

With posters saying "Don't break our phones" and displaying cell phone images saying "No entry" in hands, the high-spirited protesters faced damp rain and bitter wind outside the Fifth Avenue Apple Store, according to Xinhua news agency.

Jeff Lyon, the chief technical officer said, "We are standing in solidarity with Apple and their decision to oppose the FBI's scheme to put backdoors to the iPhones".

The protest occurred against the background of a major argument between the country's law enforcement agencies and Apple over its security measures on iPhones.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a cue last Friday to force Apple to comply with a court order to help the Federal Bureau of Investigation to access data on an iPhone owned by the terrorist shooter of San Bernadino, California.

Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik used an IPhone 5C. But FBI couldn't access the data on the phone without a passcode.This couple shot 14 people dead in December 2015 in San Bernadino and was later killed by Police.

In response to FBI's request, a federal judge ordered Apple to create a software that evades a security feature that erases data in the iPhone after 10 unsuccessful unlocking attempts.

"This case sets a dangerous precedent for the FBI to get a court to order Apple to push new software on all their phones that create a government backdoor," said protester David Moore.

In a statement released last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook refused to obey with the court order, saying that "in the wrong hands, this software – which does not exist today – would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone's physical possession," which would in turn compromise the data security of all Apple's customers.

"Once you break one phone, you break all the phones. All our phones are breakable using the same technology," said protester Theo Chino.(IANS)