> Also, is leaving a file that breaks the admissibility of previously gathered evidence considered active hacking? Am I misunderstanding something about the function of the files in Signal? I thought the only way Cellebrite's software is interacted with is if it tries to access Signal on the device. Signal isn't actively searching to hack back. It's triggered by Cellebrite's software, not Signal's.
Yes this is called booby trapping and at least in the US is illegal. It’s akin to tying a trigger to a door opening so that whoever opens the door gets shot, even if that person had no right to be there, you can still be held liable for any injury the bullet causes.