According to Jonathan Zdziarski, it is not possible to delete personal data on the iPhone. The data left on the iPhone could lead to identity theft, among other things. Zdziarski, the iPhone hacking genius and also the author of “iPhone Open Application Development” has has designed a forensic tool, which he plans to release to the public. This means that anyone willing to do bad things can get your personal info off the iPhone. Even Apple and AT&T dont clean the iPhone properly!!!
As noted by Jonathan Zdziarski:
“A verified detective from the Oregon State Police notified me this afterrnoon that an out-of-the-box refurbished iPhone he purchased contained recoverable personal data including email, personal photos, and even financial information which he was able to recover using my forensic toolkit”
At left is actual stored data from a refurbished iPhone: a screenshot that the iPhone took itself of the user’s inbox when its user pressed the ‘Home’ button. Application snapshots are taken every time a program goes into the background to generate the zoom effects built into the device.
Right now there is no safe way to delete your personal data from the iPhone. Remember this as you try to unload your old iPhone in the wake of the new 3G iPhone that will probably be coming soon.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I know this is probably a stupid question but: Can you go online on the Iphone if the phone service has been cut off?
Thanks for the info, always looking for something new.