The Feds’ Favorite iPhone Hacking Tool Is Selling On eBay For $100—And It’s Leaking Data

collected by :Clara William

But recently he's learned just what he had his hands on: a valuable, Israeli-made piece of technology called the Cellebrite UFED. Cybersecurity researchers are now warning that valuable case data and powerful police hacking tools could have leaked as a result. Cellebrite warns customers about reselling its high-tech mobile hacking devices. But using the information within a UFED, Hickey believes a malicious hacker could identify the suspects and their relevant cases. Despite concerns about the security of critical law enforcement devices, Hickey at least plans to do something fun with his purchases.

Cellebrite iPhone hacking tools selling on eBay for as little as $100

Meant to be used only by law enforcement, Cellebrite hacking tools for iPhones and other smartphones are reportedly selling on eBay for sums as low as $100. Image Credit: AFP/Getty ImagesThe most expensive the used hardware gets is $1,000, Forbes said on Thursday. Cellebrite sells new systems for $6,000 or higher.The forensic data firm is sending letters to clients warning them against reselling its hacking tools, given the potential for illegally breaking into private data. That includes IMEI numbers, which could be used to track down an individual phone.The devices could even contain chats and contact lists, Hickey said, though he chose not to explore that material.Still more worrisome is the possibility that Cellebrite's tools could map out vulnerabilities it hasn't shared with Apple and other vendors. Apple tends to close exploits used by forensics firms as soon as it discovers them, since they could just as well be used illegally.Cellebrite is famously believed to be the third party the FBI turned to crack the iPhone 5c of San Bernardino killer Syed Rizwan Farook .

iPhone and Android hacking tool used by FBI and DHS on sale on eBay for as little as $100

referring to It's the most powerful tool yet created by the Israeli company, able to extract a huge amount of data – even data which has been deleted from phones. Matthew Hickey, a cybersecurity researcher and cofounder of training academy Hacker House, bought a dozen UFED devices and probed them for data. However, as of March of last year, the latest Cellebrite UFED was able to access even a locked iPhone X running iOS 11. It was initially reported that Cellebrite was the company able to access the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone after the FBI declared it impossible. An eBay search reveals a number of Cellebrite UFED models on sale currently.