Application security , Endpoint/Device Security Man charged for using phone’s ‘duress’ password to wipe data July 24, 2026 Share By SC Staff The U.S. Justice Department is prosecuting an American man for allegedly providing U.S. border authorities with a passcode that wiped the contents of his phone, a case believed to be the first of its kind in the United States where federal prosecutors have charged someone for the alleged destruction of data using a "duress" password, as first reported by TechCrunch. Atlanta resident Samuel Tunick is fighting charges that he provided a passcode to U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents that caused his phone to delete its contents before seizure. The case involves a feature in GrapheneOS, a custom Android operating system, which allows a user to set a passcode that deliberately wipes the device if entered instead of the unlock passcode. Tunick's attorneys argue that the seizure of his phone was unlawful and that any evidence should be suppressed. They also claim the government was investigating Tunick for his association with the "Cop City" environmental movement, not for child exploitation imagery as initially suggested. The indictment accuses Tunick of violating a federal statute that prohibits destroying property to prevent its seizure. Security experts have noted the rarity of this statute being used in such a case, and the use of a duress password has not been seen before in similar legal proceedings. The court is expected to rule on Tunick's motion to suppress later this year. Source: TechCrunch SC Staff Related Application security Vatican’s ‘Click to Pray’ app leaks personal data of hundreds of thousands SC Staff July 24, 2026 A popular Vatican website and mobile app, 'Click to Pray,' was found to be leaking the names and email addresses of hundreds of thousands of its users. Application security macOS Gatekeeper vulnerability allows app replacement SC Staff July 24, 2026 As detailed in The Register, security researchers uncovered a vulnerability in Apple's macOS Gatekeeper security feature that could allow malicious actors to replace legitimate applications with harmful versions. Application security Millions of vehicles vulnerable to Bluetooth car theft attacks SC Staff July 23, 2026 Millions of vehicles equipped with dealer-installed KARR and SWDS security systems are susceptible to Bluetooth-based attacks that could allow unauthorized access or prevent vehicles from starting. Related Events Cybercast Bridging the Gap from CISO-Developed Tools to Black Hat Hype: What AI Security Leaders Should Watch Next On-Demand Event Cybercast Protecting Application User Data for Better Privacy, Governance, and Compliance On-Demand Event Cybercast The Next Evolution of Application Security: AI- Accelerated DevSecOps On-Demand Event Get daily email updates SC Media's daily must-read of the most current and pressing daily news Business Email By clicking the Subscribe button below, you agree to SC Media Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Subscribe Related Terms Anti-Malware Antivirus Software Banner Client Cookie Ephemeral Port Extranet Firmware Keylogger Registry You can skip this ad in 5 seconds