iPhones' access to data facing scrutiny

Researcher says Apple can nab texts, contacts

Personal data including text messages, contact lists and photos can be extracted from iPhones through previously unpublicized techniques by Apple employees, the company acknowledged this week.

The same techniques to circumvent backup encryption could be used by law enforcement or others with access to the "trusted" computers to which the devices have been connected, according to the security expert who prompted Apple's admission.