The FBI has revealed it has gained access to a phone it says was used by Thomas Matthew Crooks – the deceased man accused of shooting at and wounding former US president Donald Trump on July 13 in an incident that has been classified as an assassination attempt

The Bureau hasn't explained how it got into the phone, but is known to have previously [1]acquired capabilities that allow it to access devices – and even view encrypted content – despite the use of passwords and/or biometric authentication. Service providers also [2]sell phone-cracking tools that are widely used by US law enforcement agencies.

The contents of Crooks's phone are hoped to contain information that leads to an understanding of the 20-year-old's motives, and possibly intelligence that helps authorities to understand if he acted alone or communicated with others who may have planned further acts of violence.

[3]FBI, cyber-cops zap ~1K Russian AI disinfo Twitter bots

[4]FBI encourages LockBit victims to step right up for free decryption keys

[5]FBI takes down BreachForums ransomware website and Telegram channel

[6]BreachForums returns just weeks after FBI-led takedown

The feds also haven't offered any indication of when they might complete their analysis of the phone. The only communication has been an [7]update to the effect that "technical specialists … continue to analyze his electronic devices."

Which suggests the Bureau has more than a phone to work with.

[8]

The FBI is also working its way through "digital media tips which include photos and videos taken at the scene" and wrote that its “search of the subject's residence and vehicle are complete." ®

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[1] https://www.theregister.com/2016/04/13/fbi_iphone_hack/

[2] https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/21/us_phone_cracking/

[3] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/09/russian_ai_bot_farm/

[4] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/06/lockbit_fbi_decryption_keys/

[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/15/fbi_breachforums_ransomware/

[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/28/breachforums_back_online/

[7] https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/update-on-the-fbi-investigation-of-the-attempted-assassination-of-former-president-donald-trump

[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/legal&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZpXwW1NVRXf51hpry1j1BwAAAZY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0

[9] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/