Magnet Forensics, the maker of GrayKey—an iPhone and Android data extraction tool sold to law enforcement—claims it has developed a way to keep certain iPhone data accessible despite Apple’s “inactivity reboot” protection. According to a report cited by multiple outlets, the company shows a device and features intended to freeze iPhones in a state that is easier for forensic extraction.
The claims relate to an iPhone security mechanism introduced with recent iOS versions. After 72 hours without an unlock, Apple restarts the phone and returns it to a “Before First Unlock” (BFU) state, which makes some user-related data harder to access through tools. Coverage also says the approach may counter other iPhone behaviors that delete time-limited data, such as cached location history and certain messages or photos.
Researchers quoted in the reporting caution that it is not possible to verify exactly how the workaround works based on available material. They suggest it could involve manipulating the phone’s internal timing or disabling tasks that trigger data expiration, while Magnet positions it as “evidence preservation” that extends how long extractable data remains available. The story centers on potential implications for iOS forensics rather than a confirmed, independently tested technical method.
