Apple developing measures to make it even harder for governments to break into iPhones: Report

Apple Inc is said to be developing security measures to make it even harder for the government to break into iPhones, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing people close to the company and security experts.

"Apple engineers have already begun developing new security measures that would make it impossible for the government to break into a locked iPhone using methods similar to those now at the centre of a court fight in California," the Times said.

The tech giant is currently battling the FBI which has requested the company to unlock a particular iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino shooters.

On Wednesday, CEO Tim Cook said that it would be 'bad for America' if his company complied with the FBI's demand for help unlocking the encrypted iPhone.

Cook said he's prepared to take the dispute to the US Supreme Court.

He also said he would try to make his case directly to President Barack Obama, although he did not say when or where they would meet.

The Apple chief expressed sympathy for the shooting victims' families, and said his company provided engineers and technical advice to authorities investigating the case. But he said authorities are now asking the company "to write a piece of software that we view as sort of the equivalent of cancer."

The software could "expose people to incredible vulnerabilities," Cook added, arguing that smartphones contain private information about users and even their families.

With inputs from Reuters

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