If you plan on tossing your old iPhone for the new 3G version next month, you may want to think twice before you do. Just like any other computer platform, you can pull data out of the memory using tools that are readily available. To most people this isn’t a big deal, but to the paranoid this is life or death.
Since people use their iPhone for all kinds of computing, the information stored could (the key word is could) be used to steal your identity. So there are a few people out there trying to figure out the proper way to overwrite your data.
The one that most people are trying is copying several playlists multiple times to your phone, thinking this would eventually overwrite the memory, zero it out in a sense. The first flaw with this is that the memory will most likely still have trace fragments that could be pulled. The second is that no one is sure how the file system is set up on the phone; music and application data may be stored in different places.
If you’re going to sell your old iPhone, it’s worth a shot. If you’re truly paranoid, then just sell it to someone you know is trustworthy, like a friend or family member. Safety first, people.
For one thing, I’m mildly incensed that Apple came up with a new version of their devil machine (DEVIL MACHINE!!!) relatively soon (but hey, they need to make the moneys).
For the other thing, doesn’t an iPhone have some kind of “factory reset” feature that purges everything except the default firmware? If it doesn’t, it should.
And for a third thing, yeah, it’s pretty bad these days what with all this paranoia over identity theft. People pawing through your trash or your old HDDs might just use your credit to finance their house or some crap like that. Makes you want to put an IDfreeze up on both yourself and anyone you’ve ever known.
Even giving the phone to a trusted family member or friend will not eliminate 100% of the chance of avoiding identity theft. Some family members and friends have been known to use their relationship to steal identities.
We have a graveyard of discarded celphones in our house. And yes generous me has given a couple away to friends/neighbors. Heck I even gave a car adapter phone cord to a guy at the verizon store to save him $30 bucks.
and speaking of non discriminating criminals…
check out these two sweet young things…
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/18886224.html
The poster children of id theft”
They’re victims included young-old, friend-host-stranger…
were they taught “it’s easier to steal a fortune than earn one” this is so compelling a story. I am almost sure they will both write books and make a million. I registered for TrustedID and its blanket protection for the whole family. Just received credit reports and we look good so far. No surprises.
Vicki