[nabla9]

Does apple have firmware lock that requires user input/password for signed firmware/software updates?

If it has and it can be circumvented, there is fault somewhere. If it don't have it, Apple should have it.

>What is actually being asked for here is that Apple write custom code that allows the FBI to perform a brute-force attack against the iPhone without triggering the "10 strikes and the phone is wiped" protection mechanism. This is a completely different animal.