How to completely erase user data from an iPhone, part two: command-line edition

Steve might have finally made with the iPhone 3G yesterday, but as we've mentioned before, would-be upgraders have a slightly bigger dilemma than just shaking down the couch cushions for an extra $199: getting their user data securely erased from their old iPhones. Simply hitting "restore" still leaves your data in an accessible state, and while we've covered ways to do a three-pass wipe with iTunes playlists, Jonathan Zdziarski has posted up a set of instructions for getting at your flash from the command line and wiping it directly. Sure, you'll have to jailbreak your phone and it'll take at least an hour or so -- but hey, you've got a month to kill anyway, right?

[natels @ Jun 10th 2008 4:20PM]

Here come the rants...

[matthewlikestoburn @ Jun 10th 2008 4:44PM]

arg! i hate everyone, everything and people like you! why won't life be goodand make everyone agree with me and think i'm perfect?

[ddub @ Jun 10th 2008 5:17PM]

I do believe this is a post only appropriate for a mac or iphone only blog. While its only a post, this is for something very specific that only people who plan on selling their iphones care about. If your one of those people, then you'll find it on your own easy enough.

And yes I did exercise my option and did not read the article. I just saw the headline and added my comment to express my opinion.

[Brett @ Jun 10th 2008 6:08PM]

wow, this is unique, engadget does a story on the iphone...
wow, i wish they could do like 50 pages of iphone stories...

oh wait, that was yesterday...

[John @ Jun 10th 2008 7:06PM]

@ddub:

You're not entitled to anything. How many ads have you clicked on this site that led you to buy a product? How much money have you donated to the site? When you contribute something other than your needless bitching that everyone has heard 1000 times before, then maybe you can have a say on how this site should run and what people should blog about. Get the no-iPhone RSS feed and SHUT UP ALREADY.

[ddub @ Jun 11th 2008 6:58PM]

@John

Jesus calm down man. I'm not bitching. I never demanded anything. As I said, I just wanted to express my opinion. That's the great thing about how blogs work. I can express my opinion; and who know's, maybe the editor will read it.

I've never donated money to this site (Engadget isn't too high on my list of worthy causes). I do click on ads from time to time, but have probably never purchased anything. But you know what, I visit this site multiple times a day, which is what really counts.

I can't believe people actually high ranked your pathetic bitching John.

[Mile @ Jun 10th 2008 4:21PM]

I'm surprised the "Blend It" method is not mentioned even once in either part.

[deyanimay @ Jun 10th 2008 4:24PM]

i'm not

[iEye @ Jun 10th 2008 4:23PM]

No need to erase data, as most people now will be keeping the old iPhone as Apple has gotten greedy and, if you get mugged as you leave the Apple store with the 3G, you will probably get charged $1,000 for not fighting back to protect the iPhone with your life...

[Dave @ Jun 10th 2008 4:33PM]

Apple HAS gotten greedy? Who are you kidding? Apple has been greedy ever since Jobs came back. They will never allow bluetooth on any iPhones because they can't cash in on unlicensed 3rd party apps, they will never truly allow "free" software to be developed on the iPhone either.

I think Apple HAS BEEN greedy for a while now.

[Jason @ Jun 10th 2008 5:00PM]

@Dave: honest question... what do you mean by "they will never allow bluetooth"? What specific bluetooth functionality is missing (from it's existing bluetooth support) that would be beneficial to have? Relative to what other potential competitors offer?

[Josh @ Jun 10th 2008 5:03PM]

stereo bluetooth for wireless headphones, or tethering for internet connection on a computer/other phone, etc, syncing would be cool too

[OnlyShawn @ Jun 10th 2008 5:16PM]

Define "greedy". Go ahead, have a great time with that. Also, factor in the progressively quality products that are selling incredibly well, and people are freely buying.

Here's a hint: It's not just charging more than you want to pay.

[blevay @ Jun 10th 2008 4:24PM]

I would hope that since apple is no doubt aware of the problem now that they're already "disinfecting" iphones that get returned, and would pass through their hands again through the exchange program. i hope anyway.

[Snitch @ Jun 10th 2008 4:24PM]

I doubt anyone will jump on ebay & buy a iphone just to see if it has anything on it, heck buy my old iphone and good luck reading all my spam

[Gingerbread Man @ Jun 10th 2008 4:33PM]

1.I think I'll just update to 2.0 when its released

2.Then put my phone on the opposite side of the house and remote wipe it.

3.Go pick it up and and feel like a cool guy.

[Fatima @ Jun 10th 2008 10:12PM]

You don't have enterprise, you cant remote wipe. Unless you own your enterprise server which is $$$$.

[thatguy @ Jun 10th 2008 4:36PM]

I'm throwing mine in my toolbox and using it as a flashlight.

[G Tom @ Jun 10th 2008 4:44PM]

Sorta off-topic...

Anyone have any idea on whether or not I can use my old iPhone SIM and plug into the 3G? I'd like to keep my current (ie cheaper) iPhone plan and maybe I'll just turn my old iPhone into iPod touch. My plan was to buy a 3G, activate, take it home, cancel subscription, switch out the SIM cards.

Is this possible/realistic?

[applefan @ Jun 10th 2008 4:57PM]

Well I've heard that you can't walk out of an Apple or AT&T store without signing a contract, so, um, no you can't.

Please someone correct me if I"m wrong. I really want to be wrong. I want to hacktivate the 3G iPhone, but I can't if you can't leave without signing a contract. Aghhh!!!

[Josh @ Jun 10th 2008 4:59PM]

you need to keep it activated for 30 days or the phone is required to cancel the plan...after that you can pay the ETF

my question is after 30 days, can i renew a 2yr plan and get a BB or iphone1 plan?

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jun 10th 2008 5:18PM]

well I'm pretty sure that the iphone exhange plan lets you keep your normal plan if you bought your older iphone after May 27th.

[iphone_lover @ Jun 10th 2008 5:04PM]

I will frame my iPhone and hang it on my wall. So I wil be forever reminded what iPhone did to change this world! Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JMMGoalster @ Jun 10th 2008 5:12PM]

you mean besides make people like you leave stupid comments?

[Jon @ Jun 10th 2008 5:12PM]

Jailbreaking is not required; the ramdisk does all the work.

[Some Kid @ Jun 10th 2008 5:26PM]

no your wrong
jailbreaking is required because its fun
ha

[Dan Bedford @ Jun 10th 2008 5:46PM]

Ok, I've been reading these posts about how everyone's worried about their data still being intact in the iPhone's memory after you do a restore through iTunes, as if that's the only way to completely erase an iPhone by normal means.

Has ANYONE seen this option??

Settings > General > Reset > *Erase All Content and Settings*

Maybe one of those security experts who found out that iTunes restores don't fully erase an iPhone should try that option and see if it takes care of this issue?

Sorry if this has been mentioned before, but so far it seems like it hasn't.

[Marcus @ Jun 10th 2008 6:14PM]

Nike pro combo :) Beautiful set of irons.

[SG @ Jun 10th 2008 6:26PM]

I am starting to wonder "What is engadget?"

1) News/reviews on new interesting gadgets?
2) News/reviews on every damn software/hardware/incident involving iphone?

I must be new here to expect 1 to be true, guess Apple's been outsourcing their PR to someone :-)

Tomorrows headline: Tommy dropped his iphone and cried for 2 hours?

[El Taco @ Jun 10th 2008 6:35PM]

it's half and half for #1 and #2

[NoOne08 @ Jun 10th 2008 6:55PM]

I just don't get it. Please explain to me why are you reading apple/iphone news when you so obviously hate them? Hey, don't like them? It's your choice really..i have nothing against that, but coming in here just to complaint of how many news, and how many coverage iphone is getting? That i don't understand.

If you, and all of the others that are sick of apple/iphone news don't want to read them, then just don't click on them, and if just by seeing "apple" or "iphone" written gets you mad, then chose another news fed that doesn't talk about them...

[Shenzhov @ Jun 10th 2008 7:29PM]

Easier way to erase an old iPhone.

Put in microwave.
Set timer for 10 seconds.
Push start.

Poof....all cleaned out.

[Dash @ Jun 10th 2008 11:46PM]

I am upset at the fact that all we are really getting is gps with the version 2 phone. I do however think Steve has great things up his sleeve. HELLO! we have a lot of hardware on the first iphone that the sdk can take advantage of and we will see some of those great results in early july with the software / firmware update. The people that complain so much about not being able to do certain things like copy and paste and save photos from emails and such don't really understand that this is an upgradeable platform, this is not Nokia or Bang & Olufsen. The phone doesn't JUST look pretty. For those saying Steve Jobs is greedy your just morons that don't realize the potential in something like this and just want everything for free. AT&T is what you call greedy.