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Apple Inc.: This News Could Send Apple Stock Soaring
Apple Stock Could Skyrocket
As Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) squares off against the government, I get more and more bullish on AAPL stock. Whether you agree with the company’s decision or not, there’s reason to believe it could start a huge rally for Apple stock.
In case you missed it, Apple has been locked in an intense fight with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Law enforcement officials have been trying to break into an “iPhone” belonging to one of the San Bernardino shooters.
It’s a little more difficult than it sounds. Apple has encrypted all its smartphones in such a way that they couldn’t even break it. It was a way of saying that no one, not the government nor Apple itself, would infringe on a customer’s right to privacy.
The FBI thinks it’s found a way in, but it would require Apple’s cooperation. When Apple resisted, the FBI sued and won. A judge ordered Apple to implement the FBI’s strategy, but CEO Tim Cook refused.
I’ll get into the details, but first let’s make one thing clear: This is a massive win for Apple. The company can now position itself as the most trustworthy smartphone maker, the only one that will keep your information out of the government’s hands.
Don’t be surprised if iPhone sales jump and Apple stock shoots through the roof.
Give an Inch, Lose a Mile
This isn’t a small battle; it’s a power struggle over how much privacy we’re willing to sacrifice for national security. We all know the National Security Agency (NSA) collects metadata about our calls, texts, and other activities. That in itself was an issue.
But forcing a company to build a “backdoor” into its software? That kind of control is unprecedented. The FBI insists that it would only be able to access the one phone it needs, but that’s not the point.
Apple would have to upgrade its firmware to create a loophole through which the FBI could tap the phone. Even if it was specific to that one phone, there’s no doubt hackers will try to reverse-engineer the firmware. If they succeed, every single iPhone would be at risk.
CEO Tim Cook showed an immense amount of courage by standing up to the FBI. He saw the endgame. Customers simply would not forgive Apple if it betrayed their right to privacy. And believe me, Americans care a lot about privacy.
