FBI may have found method to unlock San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone

The hearing between the feds and Apple was canceled as the FBI works with an “outside party” to unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s phone.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

LOS ANGELES — Federal authorities have asked to hold off on a much-anticipated court hearing set for Tuesday over the FBI’s demand for Apple to help unlock an encrypted iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino attackers.

In a filing late Monday, federal prosecutors said “an outside party” has come forward and shown the FBI a possible method for unlocking the phone used by one of the shooters in the Dec. 2 terror attack. Authorities say they need time to determine if the method will work without compromising data on the phone.

If the method works, the government said, it would eliminate the need for Apple’s assistance. Apple has fought the court order, saying the government’s demand for assistance would make other iPhones vulnerable.

In a statement, U.S. Justice Department spokeswoman Melanie Newman says the government is “cautiously optimistic” that the possible method will work.

The hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, in U.S. District Court in Riverside will be the first in the battle that has seen Apple CEO Tim Cook and FBI Director James Comey spar over issues of privacy and national security.

The case is likely to set a precedent regarding whether technology companies must assist law enforcement.

A magistrate judge sided last month with the FBI. The agency wants Apple to help it crack the iPhone passcode for the gunman in the Dec. 2 attacks that killed 14 people.

Apple says doing so would tarnish its brand and threaten the trust its customers have about the security of their personal information.