The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday said they may not need Apple Inc to unlock the iPhone used by one of the shooters in the San Bernardino attack. According to The Washington Post, federal prosecutors informed the court that "an outside party" has come forward and showed the FBI a possible method for unlocking Syed Rizwan Farook's encrypted phone.

“Our top priority has always been gaining access into the phone used by the terrorist in San Bernardino,” Justice Department spokesperson Melanie Newman said. “With this goal in mind, the FBI has continued in its efforts to gain access to the phone without Apple’s assistance, even during a month-long period of litigation with the company.”

Apple is resisting the US government's demand that they create a code that will help the investigators get into the terrorist's lock-protected phone without losing any data. The next hearing in the case was scheduled for Tuesday, but the government asked the court to delay it. The government said they need time to determine "whether it is a viable method that will not compromise data" on the phone. If viable, "it should eliminate the need for the assistance from Apple". US Attorney's Office spokesperson Thom Mrozek said the court has asked the government to file a status report by April 5.