How do I erase a water damaged iPhone that wont power on?

[Damon Hill]

I have an iPhone 5s that was water damaged that will NOT power on. I have put it up on ebay to sell but I want to make sure I can erase it. The only way I can figure is that I have gone into icloud and set it to erase once it's connected to the internet. Is this the best & only way to make sure it will erase and no one else can access data if they repair it?

What other steps should i take to make sure that if someone can repair it that they cannot access anything important? (outside of changing email passwords, itunes/icloud passwords, turning on 2-step verification, etc)

 

[Farsider]

Is there a market for dead iPhones on eBay?

If you tether the iPhone to a computer with iTunes installed and power it on, can iTunes see it? If so, you can restore/wipe it that way. I guess as long as you had a passcode set with 'Erase After 10 failed attempts' enabled, your data will be encrypted and wiped if someone tried to brute force their way in.

 

[AbSoluTc]

I have an iPhone 5s that was water damaged that will NOT power on. I have put it up on ebay to sell but I want to make sure I can erase it. The only way I can figure is that I have gone into icloud and set it to erase once it's connected to the internet. Is this the best & only way to make sure it will erase and no one else can access data if they repair it?

What other steps should i take to make sure that if someone can repair it that they cannot access anything important? (outside of changing email passwords, itunes/icloud passwords, turning on 2-step verification, etc)

I wouldn't risk it honestly. If it's water damaged, it's toast and not repairable. Odds of anyone getting your data off are slim/impossible but not worth the risk. Your best bet is removing the battery and taking a hammer to the logic board. Sell the rest for parts if you want.

Is there a market for dead iPhones on eBay?

If you tether the iPhone to a computer with iTunes installed and power it on, can iTunes see it? If so, you can restore/wipe it that way. I guess as long as you had a passcode set with 'Erase After 10 failed attempts' enabled, your data will be encrypted and wiped if someone tried to brute force their way in.

See the bolded text above your quote.

 

[Farsider]

See the bolded text above your quote.

Yeah I saw that. It could be just the screen that won't light up. The phone itself might boot. You'd never really know without tethering it to iTunes. Worth a shot.

 

[Newtons Apple]

If all else fails, about 5 seconds in the microwave will fry the memory and most of the circuits.

 

[Gryfter]

If all else fails, about 5 seconds in the microwave will fry the memory and most of the circuits.

hey, if Impossible Mission Force does it...

 

[convergent]

Take a large sledge hammer and beat it until all the chips inside are smashed into tiny pieces. I'm quite sure that no one will then be able to recover any of your secret information. Oh... and be sure to use eye protection. I wouldn't sell something like that. Anything you do to assure the information is gone will also make its value as a broken phone go to $0.