Grayshift is an American digital forensics company founded in 2016 and based in Atlanta, known for producing GrayKey, a compact forensic device designed to unlock iPhones, iPads and Android phones. Backed by private investors and majority-controlled by Thoma Bravo as of 2023, the company merged with Magnet Forensics that year following Magnet’s acquisition. Grayshift grew from a small startup to a vendor whose tools are purchased by federal and local law enforcement and government agencies worldwide; the GrayKey system has been reported in active use by the FBI and police forces in multiple countries.
GrayKey operates by brute-forcing passcodes and exploiting device vulnerabilities to extract data, with pricing reported between roughly $15,000 and $30,000 per unit and evolving hardware iterations including a “GrayKey 2.0.” Its capabilities have varied by iOS version and model: older devices have allowed full data decryption, while Apple mitigations such as USB Restricted Mode and other patches have limited extractions to unencrypted files and metadata on newer phones, creating an ongoing cat-and-mouse dynamic with Apple. GrayKey added Android support in 2021 and later claimed compatibility with iOS 17, Galaxy S24 and Pixel 6/7 devices. The company’s code was partially leaked in 2018 during an extortion attempt, highlighting security and policy debates around law-enforcement access to locked devices.
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Developers disassemble libraries to report bugs due to delays in AOSP source releases. A recent issue reveals that on Android 17 builds, wcscspn() and wcspbrk() functions behave incorrectly with certain wchar_t characters. (github.com)
Anthropic has raised concerns about a potential AI threat that does not currently exist to evoke fears of an AI apocalypse. Critics argue that these warnings are speculative and may be used to regulate or restrict AI development. (theregister.com)
Experts warn parents to prepare children for the potential trauma of witnessing a livestreamed execution. The advice highlights concerns about the increasing possibility of violent events being broadcast online. (apnews.com)
Chinese hackers have targeted US government agencies including the DOJ, NASA, the Federal Reserve, and the Senate. The US government has publicly attributed the cyberattacks to Chinese state-sponsored actors. (usatoday.com)
Scientists warn that AI security failures highlight the need for better containment and alignment practices to prevent damaging incidents. They recommend immediate adoption of high-assurance sandboxing and the creation of an international body to standardize safety protocols and ensure transparency. (ai-security-letter.org)
The Department of Justice arrested two individuals and seized 187 devices in a crackdown on a North Korean-operated laptop farm in Texas. The operation targeted illegal activities linked to North Korea's cyber activities. (reuters.com)
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