Restoring iPhone leaves recoverable data

When performing a full restore on Apple’s iPhone, some data is allegedly intact enough that it can be restored with data recovery tools, even ones that have come refurbished directly from Apple. Enthusiast Jonathan Zdziarski was notified by a reader – who happens to be a detective for the Oregon State Police – was able to restore data from a former user, with the tool revealing their name and several emails to Bank of America, among others.

In addition to the data itself, the detective was also able to recover snapshots that the iPhone makes when performing visual transition effects, such as pressing the home button as the email app whisks away.

Filed under: iPhone, software
Other story tags: data recovery