After weeks of heated debate, in which Apple had resisted the FBI's demand for help, U.S. authorities say they found their own way to get the data from an encrypted iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino mass shooters. Government prosecutors asked a federal judge on Monday to vacate a disputed order forcing Apple to help the FBI break into the iPhone, saying it was no longer necessary.

The FBI did not disclose how it managed to access data on the iPhone used by gunman Syed Farook, who died with his wife in a gun battle with police after they killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, in December.

The government's brief court filing, in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, did not identify the non-government "outside party" that showed agents how to get past the phone's security defenses.

Apple responded by saying it will continue to increase the security of its products.

The development punctured the perception that Apple's security might have been good enough to keep consumers' personal information safe even from the U.S. government.

The withdrawal of the court process also takes away Apple's ability to legally request details on the method the FBI used in this case. Apple attorneys said last week that they hoped the government would share that information with them if it proved successful.

Apple CEO Tim Cook had argued that helping the FBI hack the iPhone would set a dangerous precedent, making all iPhone users vulnerable, if Apple complied with the court order.

Following the development, authorities could say they achieved their goal of getting into the iPhone, proving their strengths.

On the other hand, Apple successfully resisted a court order that it contends would be harmful to its customers.

We may never learn what happened in the background, but it's a convenient happy end for both parties, don't you think?