How third parties generate valid pins for locked to the network devices

[TechLord]

Originally Posted by m0nix

I was wondering do they cooperate with operators worldwide, maybe they gave them access to the database if they pay fee?

But maybe those services use leaked software that calculates the pins by given imei.
I searched a lot for software that calculates unlock pins by given imei but all that i found was old software for old devices.

Can someone give me information on this topic?

In nearly all the countries, with a court order (a judge/DA basically signs a request form by the cops and it takes anywhere from a few hours to a few days depending on the urgency of the case etc and this counts as a court order), SIM CARDS per se can be unlocked by the provider in seconds using their master PUKs.

This is used when the cops need to read some stuff stored on the sim cards. This was widely used a few years when when all the storage of the text messages was only on the sim rather than on the phone.

These days. since smart phones can optionally store stuff in the phone itself, this access to the SIM is requested only in cases where they want to verify some stuff from the SIM itself (identity etc).

It is in general a LOT harder for the cops to get "permissions" from the judges/Attorney General etc than you'd think , mainly due to privacy laws...

What you read on the news are about a few scattered cases...

In REAL LIFE, cops generally strike up a sort of "bargain" with the accused giving them options with a lesser sentence and charges if they would voluntarily agree to unlock their devices etc (sort of a plea bargain)

Further, if you say that you will NOT provide the access code, you could be charged (technically) with "Obstruction of justice". (Yeah, "Obstruction of Justice", "Not following Orders of an Officer" etc take precedence over your "Privacy laws" ).

If you say I "forgot" the code after having used it a minute ago , then again, you could be charged with "lying to an officer" and all sorts of stuff.

So IN SHORT, if they want the code, they WILL get it (sort of) VOLUNTARILY from you, enticing you with a nice bargain .

MOST agree to this and give in.

EVEN if a lawyer is brought in, most of the time the lawyer would advise to give the codes UNLESS he deems that there is a good deal of seriously inciminating evidence on it.

Some lawyers would say NEVER give, but then again, most say that settling for a lesser charge is better, especially when teh evidence against the accused is overwhelming...

SMART criminal do not text their customers on their mobiles regarding their transactions and stuff etc ANYWAY lol



SUMMARY:
IF there is a court order (order signed by a judge/DA counts as a court order), then IF the vendor DOES have a way to unlock ANYTHING (phone, router etc), THEY MUST do so. OR. Face charges.
Apple tried to refuse access last year. But smaller companies cannot afford to do so. They just check the order and if valid they follow it. Even Apple for that matter was under a great deal of pressure at tat time when they refused to unlock the phones...

SMART SOLUTION:
Do NOT use a smart phone for daily use I simply use a $50 phone for calls and text messages. ZERO TRACKING once I turn it off and remove battery.
I keep an iPad/Windows tablet next to me and turn it on to check mails etc as needed.


Source:
As many of you know my company provides IT side (Forensics and Data Acquisition etc) of the support to various Law Enforcement agencies (for "Major Crime" only - (underage-pn videos and images etc))
Yeah, Piracy/cracking is not exactly Major Crime (So we're good )

[chants]

Just to clarify this a bit further, without "probable cause", you would not be obstructing justice and further this would just be coercion to provide the code would amount to an illegal search. Best response would be to wait for lawyer and follow his advice, hiding behind another person as opposed to directly refusing or lying with temporary forgetfulness.

[TechLord]

Originally Posted by chants

Just to clarify this a bit further, without "probable cause", you would not be obstructing justice and further this would just be coercion to provide the code would amount to an illegal search. Best response would be to wait for lawyer and follow his advice, hiding behind another person as opposed to directly refusing or lying with temporary forgetfulness.

Cooking up probable casue is pretty easy :
"I smelt weed (marijuana) in your car" so I need to check.. OR

if I put it in ONE sentence : the word of a cop carries FAR higher weight in front of a judge especially when you do not have any witnesses.

They can even shoot you saying that you tried to hit them etc. Without witnesses its VERY tough to prove otherwise.

BOTTOM-LINE: Try not to antagonize cops by saying all those things like probable cause etc

What I used to do in practise was, that IF you really did nothing, generally , its better to be nice to them.

IF you DID do something, then the BEST approach is to say that you need a lawyer. Say NOTHING MORE. And COMPLY with whatever they ask in the meanwhile.

Body cameras etc have limited value.

Trust me. And read the papers if you still doubt me. Some cops even shoot if they "feel threatened" ... A long enquiry follows but at the end of the day someones dead ..

Cheers