While the FBI’s request for the capabilities to hack into Apple’s mobile operating system (iOS) may affect many individual Apple users, it also confirms predicted consumer trends for the upcoming few years.

On Feb. 16, Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., released a letter to customers on Apple’s website declaring Apple’s objection to the FBI’s demand that Apple create a “backdoor” to a phone recovered in the San Bernardino terrorist act last December.

“Up to this point, we have done everything that is both within our power and within the law to help the [FBI]. But now the U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create,” Cook said in the letter.

Creating the version of iOS the FBI requested is so dangerous, because it wouldn’t necessarily be specific to only the San Bernardino phone. If anyone were to get their hands on the software, they could hack into any Apple product, thus recovering any personal information Apple customers have entered into their devices.

Senior computer science major at the University Marcus Bullock, works as an information technology (IT) intern at Kingston Healthcare Company, where he focuses on encryption and other tasks.

“There is such a security issue,” Bullock said. “Basically, if Apple were to create this backdoor, anyone with even a little bit of [coding] knowledge would be able to hack into another’s iPhone.”

He said many consumers tend to use Apple because of their encryption, which makes it almost impossible for viruses to occur on the company’s devices.

“That [encryption] is something they’ve always done really, really well on,” Bullock said. “If they create this ‘backdoor,’ that allows the viruses to get back in.”

According to Ericson ConsumerLab’s 2016 Hot Consumer Trends report, hacking and viruses will become increasingly problematic in 2016. Eighteen percent of the sample said their trust would be reduced in organizations with hacking and virus problems.

Mitchell Meyer, a University management information systems junior, said his view of Apple would be negatively affected if the company created the security-bypassing iOS. He thinks it’s likely the iOS would leak.

“The government can take whatever information they want from me,” Meyer said. “I’ll gladly unlock my phone for them, but I don’t want to get hacked.”

If the courts rule in favor of the FBI, forcing apple to create the security-bypassing iOS, not only will the encryption keeping viruses out be compromised, but it will be much more likely for an Apple device to be compromised by hackers, confirming the continuing problems with hacking and viruses in the upcoming months of 2016.

Even if the new iOS couldn’t be leaked, the bigger problem could be the legal precedent it sets for further privacy issues in the law.

“If the government can use the All Writs Act [issues federal judges the power to order people to do things within the law] to make it easier to unlock your iPhone, i would have the power to reach into anyone’s device to capture their data,” Cook said.

He doesn’t want the precedent to result in the government being able to force Apple to build surveillance software that could be used on an individual’s messages, health records, financial information, location or phone microphone and camera without the individual’s knowledge.

Another consumer trend Apple’s scenario may demonstrate is a revival of privacy. Nick Reese of Broadband Now told mashable.com he foresees consumers having an increased focus on preserving their personal information, and as a result, will demand products and service be more privacy-oriented as well. This includes stopping the tracking of online buying and browsing habits.

“I would definitely consider switching; however I do think that if the government could make Apple, who’s to say they can’t make Samsung or Microsoft… You’re throwing all security out the window at that point,” Meyer said.

In his letter, Cook said Apple has worked for decades to create the kind of protections in its mobile iOS, and it would be wrong for the government to demand Apple create the backdoor that would reverse this effort, which would be a problem for Apple if Reese’s privacy revival trend would affect the buying habits of Apple customers.

Marc Simon, Universty political science professor, said in an email it is up to the courts to decide whether the FBI’s mandate is legal. While the courts have so far sided with the FBI, Simon said the case may reach the Supreme Court.

According to USA Today, Apple’s court hearing is scheduled for March 22, after which there will be a clearer path on the future of privacy for iPhone users.