Skip to main content
ComputingMobileGamingEntertainmentAudio / VideoYouTube
    • See All Computing
    • Trending Topics
      • Laptops
      • Software
      • PC Gaming
      • Graphics Cards
      • Artificial Intelligence
    • Trending Guides
      • ChatGPT
      • What is a Chromebook?
      • How to Choose a Laptop
      • Windows 11 vs Windows 10
      • Download YouTube Videos
    • Trending Reviews
      • RTX 4070 Review
      • LG Gram Style Review
      • Razer Blade 15 Review
      • Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Review
      • Mac Mini (M2 Pro) Review
    • Browse by Type
      • Computing News
      • Computing Guides
      • Computing Features
      • Computing Reviews
      • Computing Deals
    • See All Mobile
    • Trending Topics
      • 5G
      • Apps
      • iPhone
      • Android
      • Wearables
    • Trending Guides
      • What is 5G?
      • How to Unlock a Phone
      • How to Stop Spam Calls
      • How to Use WhatsApp Web
      • Share a Wi-Fi Password on iPhone
    • Trending Reviews
      • iPhone 14 Review
      • Google Pixel Fold Review
      • Apple Watch Ultra Review
      • Google Pixel Watch Review
      • Samsung Galaxy S23 Review
    • Browse by Type
      • Mobile News
      • Mobile Guides
      • Mobile Features
      • Mobile Reviews
      • Mobile Deals
    • See All Gaming
    • Trending Topics
      • Xbox
      • PlayStation
      • PC Gaming
      • Cloud Gaming
      • Nintendo Switch
    • Trending Guides
      • Wordle Today
      • Xbox Series X vs PS5
      • Upcoming PS5 Games
      • All Cross-Platform Games
      • Upcoming Switch Games
    • Trending Games
      • Fortnite
      • Resident Evil
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Hogwarts Legacy
      • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
    • Browse by Type
      • Gaming News
      • Gaming Guides
      • Gaming Features
      • Gaming Reviews
      • Gaming Deals
    • See All Entertainment
    • Trending Topics
      • Sci-Fi
      • Action
      • Marvel
      • Fantasy
      • DC Comics
    • Trending Guides
      • Best New Movies
      • Best New Shows
      • Best Shows on Netflix
      • Best Movies on Netflix
      • Best Shows on Disney Plus
    • ‎What to Watch
      • Best Movies on Disney Plus
      • Best Shows on Amazon Prime
      • Best Movies on Amazon Prime
      • Most Popular Movies on Netflix
      • See All Streaming Guides
    • Browse by Type
      • Entertainment News
      • Entertainment Guides
      • Entertainment Features
      • Entertainment Reviews
      • Entertainment Deals
    • See All Audio / Video
    • Trending Topics
      • TV
      • Speakers
      • Soundbars
      • Headphones
      • Streaming Services
    • Trending Guides
      • FuboTV
      • Sling TV
      • YouTube TV
      • QLED vs OLED
      • What is Sonos?
    • Trending Reviews
      • Sonos Era 100 Review
      • Sonos Era 300 Review
      • LG G3 OLED TV Review
      • Apple TV 4K (2022) Review
      • Roku Plus Series TV Review
    • Browse by Type
      • Audio / Video News
      • Audio / Video Guides
      • Audio / Video Features
      • Audio / Video Reviews
      • Audio / Video Deals
    • See All Smart Home
    • Trending Topics
      • Google Nest
      • Amazon Alexa
      • Home Security
      • Video Doorbell
      • Robot Vacuums
    • Trending Guides
      • What is a Smart Lock?
      • What is Google Home?
      • What is Amazon Alexa?
      • Best Outdoor Security Cameras
    • Trending Reviews
      • Roborock S7 Max Ultra Review
      • Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni Review
      • Ring Spotlight Cam Pro review
      • Amazon Echo Show 5 Review
      • Apple HomePod Review
    • Browse by Type
      • Smart Home News
      • Smart Home Guides
      • Smart Home Features
      • Smart Home Reviews
      • Smart Home Deals
    • See All Cars
    • Trending Reviews
      • Toyota Prius Prime Review
      • Lexus RZ 450e Review
      • Mercedes EQE AMG SUV Review
      • BMW XM Review
      • Hyundai Ioniq 6 Review
    • Trending Guides
      • NACS charging
      • EV tax credits
      • Best Level 2 EV chargers
      • Rivian R2 SUV
      • Volvo EX90 SUV
    • Browse by Type
      • Car News
      • Car Guides
      • Car Features
      • Car Reviews
      • Car Deals
    • See All Best Products
    • Best Computing Products
      • Best Laptops
      • Best Chromebooks
      • Best Graphics Cards
      • Best Gaming Laptops
      • Best Desktop Computer
    • Best Mobile Products
      • Best Phones
      • Best Tablets
      • Best Smartwatches
      • Best Fitness Trackers
      • Best Samsung Phones
    • Best Audio / Video Products
      • Best TVs
      • Best Speakers
      • Best Projectors
      • Best Soundbars
      • Best Headphones
    • Best Video Games
      • Best Mac Games
      • Best PS5 Games
      • Best Games on PS Plus
      • Best Xbox Series X Games
      • Best Nintendo Switch Games
    • See All Reviews
    • Computing Reviews
      • Mac Reviews
      • Printer Reviews
      • Laptop Reviews
      • Monitor Reviews
      • Desktop Reviews
    • Mobile Reviews
      • Phone Reviews
      • Tablet Reviews
      • Smartwatch Reviews
      • Fitness Tracker Reviews
      • iPhone and iPad Reviews
    • Audio / Video Reviews
      • TV Reviews
      • Speaker Reviews
      • Soundbar Reviews
      • Headphone Reviews
      • Media Streamer Reviews
    • More Reviews
      • Game Reviews
      • Movie and TV Show Reviews
      • Smart Home Reviews
      • Power Station Reviews
      • eBike Reviews
  • News
    • Brands
      • Dell
      • Apple
      • Google
      • Samsung
      • Microsoft
    • Deals
      • TV Deals
      • Phone Deals
      • Laptop Deals
      • Gaming PC Deals
      • See All Tech Deals
    • Original Series
      • ReSpec
      • Life on Mars
      • Genius Home
      • Tech for Change
      • See All Original Series
    • More Topics
      • Space
      • Outdoors
      • Portable Power Stations
      • Versus
      • Business
      • See All Topics
  • YouTube
  • Trending:
  • Share Wi-Fi Password on iPhone
  • How to Restart iPhone
  • Screen Record on iPhone
  • Back Up an iPhone
  • Clear Cache on iPhone
  • Share Location on iPhone
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Law enforcement agencies are buying GrayKey, a device to unlock iPhones

Lulu Chang
By Lulu Chang April 13, 2018
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Unlocking an iPhone may no longer be the arduous task it once was for law enforcement officials. It would appear that an increasing number of U.S. law enforcement agencies are buying a cost-effective device capable of unlocking iPhones without breaking a sweat. It’s called GrayKey, and it’s a small grey box with two lightning cables that stick out like antennae.

Using the device, you can connect two iPhones simultaneously, and users are meant to keep them connected for about two minutes. While they’re not immediately unlocked upon disconnection, Malwarebytes reports that “some time later, the phones will display a black screen with the passcode, among other information.”

Recommended Videos

Exactly how long it takes to unlock the phone varies, and in Malwarebytes’ observation, it took about two hours. It can, however, take up to three days or even longer for longer passwords (up to six digits), and for passwords even longer than that, there’s no word yet in exactly how long it takes. But allegedly, this device works for disabled phones, as well as phones running iOS 11.

Related
  • Does the iPhone 15 have an overheating problem? Here’s what we know
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max durability test ends with big surprise
  • I’ve had the iPhone 15 Pro Max for 48 hours. Here are 3 things you need to know

GrayKey comes from a company called Grayshift, an Atlanta-based company founded in 2016. As per a Forbes report, the GrayKey is meant for law enforcement officials or labs, which means that it is indeed a device designed specifically for the authorities. Once a device is unlocked, its contents are downloaded to the GrayKey, where they can be further analyzed by the powers that be either on a connected computer, or as a downloaded file. Moreover, Malwarebytes reports, “The full, unencrypted contents of the keychain are also available for download.”

So how much does this device cost? There are two options available. The first requires internet connectivity, and will set police stations back $15,000. It’s also geofenced, which means that once it’s been activated, it cannot be used on another internet network. Then, there’s a $30,000 version, which does not depend on the internet to work, and does not have a limit on the number of phones it can unlock. While this may sound expensive, authorities ultimately paid Israeli company Cellebrite $900,000 to unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone.

As per a report from Motherboard, a number of police forces — including ones in Maryland and Indiana — have already acquired or are considering acquiring a GrayKey. The U.S. State Department allegedly already has one as well, while the Secret Service and Drug Enforcement Administration are also looking into making a purchase.

Editors' Recommendations

  • After 3 days, I love these 4 things about the iPhone 15
  • 4 things Android phones still do better than the iPhone 15
  • As a parent, there’s one iPhone 15 feature I can’t wait to use
  • Check out this old news report of when Apple released the first iPhone
  • Don’t buy the iPhone 15 — 5 reasons to wait for the iPhone 16
Topics
  • News
  • Apple
  • Apple iPhone
  • Tech News
Lulu Chang
Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
facebook twitter Email
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
  • Mobile
Do iPhone 14 cases fit the iPhone 15? There’s an interesting answer
Speck Presido2 cases for the iPhone 15.

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 series have identical display sizes, but there are slight variations in their total dimensions due to design changes. This has led to a common question of whether the cases designed for iPhone 14 would fit the iPhone 15 models. The answer to this question is not straightforward and depends on whether you are looking for a perfect or a reasonable fit.

The iPhone 15 series consists of four models, just like the iPhone 14 series. These are the 6.1-inch iPhone 15, 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus, 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max. The prices of the iPhone 15 series are the same as the previous models, and they come with several improvements. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are made of titanium, while the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have stainless steel bodies. Additionally, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus now have the Dynamic Island for the first time.

Read more
  • Mobile
I’m going to do something crazy with my iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 15 Pro USB-C charging port.

I’m going to make a controversial suggestion: Don’t put your iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max in a case — use it naked instead.

I know it’ll go against everything we’ve learned about smartphones (usually the hard way) and how to protect them, but there are some really fascinating changes to Apple’s top smartphones this year, and not feeling them with your own hands would be a crime.
Titanium really is a big deal

Read more
  • Mobile
The iPhone 15 Pro’s Action button has a serious flaw
Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro.

Apple’s Wonderlust event brought us a revamped iPhone 15 lineup, including the iPhone 15 Pro, as well as the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

With the iPhone 15 lineup, the Dynamic Island and USB-C charging make their way to all models. The iPhone 15 Pro models got even more cool new hardware features — including the highly anticipated Action button, which was inspired by the Apple Watch Ultra.

Read more

Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • Mobile
  • Computing
  • Gaming
  • Audio / Video
  • Smart Home
  • Entertainment
  • Automotive
  • Space
  • Streaming Guides
  • Original Shows
  • Downloads
  • How-To
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Logo & Accolade Licensing
  • Subscribe to our Newsletter
  • Sponsored Content
  • Digital Trends Wallpapers
  • Digital Trends in Spanish
Digital Trends Media Group
  • Portland
  • New York
  • Chicago
  • Detroit
  • Los Angeles
  • Toronto
  • Careers
  • Advertise With Us
  • Work With Us
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Information
  • Manage cookie preferences
  • Press Room
  • Sitemap
Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
©2023 Digital Trends Media Group, a Designtechnica Company. All rights reserved.