FBI paid over $1 million to unlock San Bernardino iPhone

USA

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is estimated to have paid more than $1.3 million to get into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino killers

The figure, the largest ever publicized fee for a hacking job, is based on the salary of Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey.

Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in London, Comey was asked by a moderator how much the FBI paid for the software that eventually broke into the iPhone.

“A lot. More than I will make in the remainder of this job, which is seven years and four months for sure,” Comey said.

FBI paid more than $1 million for iPhone-cracking tool: https://t.co/ZfA6qyWjZD https://t.co/YpMq36sdvj

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 22, 2016

“But it was, in my view, worth it.”

According to figures from the FBI and the US Office of Management and Budget, Comey’s annual salary as of January 2015 was $183,300. Without a raise or bonus, Comey will make $1.34 million over the remainder of his job.