iPhone 2.0 software securely erases user data

The fact that the iPhone doesn't securely erase user data when you select "Erase All Content and Settings" has prompted a lot of hand-wringing (and given rise to a lot of complicated manual workarounds) as people get ready to flip their old phones and upgrade to the iPhone 3G, but it looks like there's a simpler solution coming: AppleInsider says the iPhone 2.0 software now securely erases user data. The process is apparently similar to Leopard's Secure Erase Trash feature, and it'll unlink data and overwrite it with random bits, making your personal info impossible to recover. Of course, that'll take some extra time -- you're looking at an extra hour of progress bars in your life. That's not so bad -- and if it keeps anyone from checking out our super-embarrassing 80s pop playlists, we're all for it.

[Thanks, Mark]

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2008 8:41PM]

Too Late For That!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2008 8:45PM]

Something seems to have done so already.

[roach Posted Jun 25th 2008 8:29PM]

This is for people who's returning an iphone, as I did with my itouch.

I had bought an itouch (I live in Canada) and it would probably led me to buying an iphone. It was cool but not enough to stay with it, so I returned it after a two weeks. So, I deleted all my info and tunes, but I didn't know the damn thing also erased all transferred tunes (stuff I ripped from my own CD) from my home computer HD. Holy shit talk about calling the kettle black...DRM galore! Later I heard about a hack that I need to burn cd to keep copies...I though using an apple product was straight forward. This is the last time I touch an Apple product...never again!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2008 8:46PM]

PEBKAC perhaps?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2008 7:55AM]

it will if you hack it

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2008 9:08PM]

80's Pop? Rick Astley! a-ha?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2008 10:26PM]

It better erase the pron on mine...

[kingu Posted Jun 25th 2008 10:42PM]

If they know it takes an hour then they must have tried it themselves. Promising...

[Hidesquadron1 Posted Jun 25th 2008 11:05PM]

As much as I am not interested in the iPhone, this kind of enhancement actually pleases me. It's a step in the right direction in regards to privacy, regardless of what company you are. I probably will never buy the product, but Kudos to the team for making sure this was in the update.

I'll stick with Windows Mobile for now. The new Touch Diamond makes me happy.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2008 11:41PM]

Still no insurance available for the iPhone? Meh..

[ricker76 Posted Jun 26th 2008 12:04AM]

I can't believe the fanboys on this blog, if anything and I mean ANYTHING in tech took an hour to complete a task it would be flamed up and down. Nobodies' pissed that this takes and HOUR to complete?

[kingu Posted Jun 26th 2008 1:54AM]

I did earlier. But i was subtle so as not to get noticed by the Apple Macintosh mob

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2008 12:20AM]

I have a 2g Iphone. Hopefully it will be possible to upgrade to the 2.0 firmware. That's all I really care about. I'm not one of the guys that is looking to 'flip' their phone as stated in the article.

At any rate. I'm one of the guys that have absolutely no intention of selling it and flipping it for a 3g phone.

#1) I have a plan with unlimited in/out calling grandfathered. I work on the road and before this plan was paying 250-350/month on minutes. Now I only pay 65/month with all system access fees and taxes included. No way I'm giving this plan up in order to sign a long term contract to get a new phone where I'd pay more in the long run.

#2) I only surf the 2g phone online when I'm at home and I have wifi in my house. When I'm on the road I'm either a)driving b)working c)out with friends. No reason to use the 3g capabilities on it for any reason whatsoever in all 3 of those circumstances.

#3) GPS? I have a dedicated GPS in my jeep. End of stoy. iPhone gps is totally irrelevant to me, just as my blackberry 8800's gps was.

So bottom line...enjoy your 3g phones. You'll enjoy it as much as I'll enjoy my 2g :)


Cheers

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2008 4:03AM]

The 2.0 software was primarily announced for end of June, was'nt it? If I have unlocked my iPhone with Ziphone, will it be possible to install the 2.0 software without any troubles?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Regards
Hobi

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2008 4:16AM]

The 2.0 software was primarily announced for end of June, was'nt it?
If I have unlocked my iPhone with Ziphone, will it be possible to
install the 2.0 software without any troubles?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Regards
Hobi

[Ethan Posted Jun 26th 2008 6:01AM]

Apple knows it makes mistakes - yay! It just won't publicly admit to them.