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Why do people steal iphones if the FBI had such a difficult time unlocking the phone of the San Bernardino shooter?

Sarah Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins
Lead Content Curator · Feb 9, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

The mugger doesn't care about obtaining the data, and doesn't need to use tools that conform with US constitutional protections for the accused. The FBI needs both. The mugger wants a phone that can be resold, so they're happy with a factory reset.

87
Words

1 min
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#176
of 500 in Technology

+16%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

The mugger doesn't care about obtaining the data, and doesn't need to use tools that conform with US constitutional protections for the accused. The FBI needs both. The mugger wants a phone that can be resold, so they're happy with a factory reset. That process can be done [without the passcode](_URL_0_). The FBI was much more interested in the data on the phone than the phone itself, so they couldn't just perform a factory reset (that would flush the data they were so interested in obtaining).

Analysis

Key Concepts: Data, phone, mugger

This explanation focuses on data, phone, mugger and spans 87 words across 5 sentences. The depth is typical for Technology questions (category average: 75 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “The mugger doesn't care about obtaining the data, and doesn't need to use tools that conform with US constitutional prot” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.

How This Compares in Technology

Ranked #176 of 500 Technology questions by answer depth (top 36%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why people steal iphones if the fbi had such a difficult time unlocking the phone of the san bernardino shooter?

The mugger doesn't care about obtaining the data, and doesn't need to use tools that conform with US constitutional protections for the accused. The FBI needs both. The mugger wants a phone that can be resold, so they're happy with a factory reset….

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Technology questions?

This is an above-average answer at 87 words, ranked #176 of 500 Technology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are data, phone, mugger.

What approach does this answer take to explain people steal iphones if the fbi had such a difficult time un?

The explanation uses direct explanation across 87 words. It is categorized under Technology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.