And it makes me wonder what other things (photos, files, documents etc) might suddenly reappear in the future?
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Troubling iOS 17.5 Bug Reportedly Resurfacing Old Deleted Photos
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And it makes me wonder what other things (photos, files, documents etc) might suddenly reappear in the future?
According to Apple's technical blurb this is not possible as Erase All Content & Settings encrypts all user data on 'disk' and trashes the keys. That is of course if we believe everything that Apple claims, which is becoming increasingly difficult with each new 'gate'.
I should have clarified, that it was a response. Its the first time I've asked the question and anyone in the last 5 years has actually responded to me to state what they think it is.
It is possible that backups, either iCloud or local also cache any data that has been put to one side to be overwritten.
If you are setting up a new iPhone, not restoring from a backup and only pulling data like Notes or Emails from iCloud then its possible those photos might exist within other apps, eg messages or as mail attachments.
If you've set up a new iPhone, have zero contact with iCloud beyond an AppleID and the App Store then that is weird and might need Mulder and Scully more than the FCC!
Of course they are, remember snowden ? Prism..
Yes, its just incompetence, because they wouldnt do it deliberately !
I’m sure Apple uses a range of cloud providers and cloud locations. Distributing data and data redundancy are key safeguards against infrastructure or service failures. Additionally, mobile services typically use edge computing, putting the data as close to the device as possible to improve latency. In these scenarios, user data is mirrored across clouds. That means your [photos] exist in numerous places simultaneously. Any data transaction (e.g. taking, editing or deleting a photo) is entered into a universal ledger. This ledger is used by core services to sync user data and actions across data locations. If that ledger is not universally accessed or synced by the multiple data locations, ghost data can exist and ledger inconsistencies can cause it to reappear.
If you’re interested you can search for “data fabric,” which is what that data strategy is called.
Worth noting that different countries also have different data retention regulations. These exist for a variety of reasons (including national security and law enforcement). That could also be a source of “old” data.
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You could be right. Hopefully (slim) we find out. 🤞
I am not concerned with Apple looking rather that they handle my data according to their statements. Nowhere do I see Apple stating anything I delete they will keep (beyond the delete “did I mean to do this” waiting period). If I have stuff I want restricted viewing, I use other avenues.
For my case, the photos that came back were from two other devices (as far as I can tell so far) from a few of years back, both iPhones, which have been replaced and are no longer in use. They showed up in Recents only. My best guess they were originally deleted not long after as I tend to transfer most pics off device and delete routinely.
The only iCloud feature I use is a OTA backup that I can use for emergency restores. iCloud Mail (infrequent use) and functions needed to support my AWU. No iCloud Photos. No Apple Music, No …. I am a multi-OS user and look for options that I can use across OS’s. Like Apple stuff but my needs are not Apple restricted.
I hear you. If it had “restored” all my deleted photos, Holy Crap!!! that would have been in the tens of thousands.
Depends on where the storage is and how it is handled. But, yes, in general, things will eventually get overwritten.
But …. I don’t use iCloud Photos and the “restored” pics in my case were from 2 or more older no longer in use or even owned devices.
I can see your point however that is even more concerning as there could now be multiple avenues that failed and “restored” pics. Potentially other data too.
My ears perked up. Did someone said Mulder and Scully?
Attachments
Y'all broke the GateCon indicator.... 😂
Given past history, we should be at either GateCon 5 or GateCon 9 but no one is defending Apple.
GateCon xx
Here's the typical cycle for problems reported on Apple products:
- A few members post reports of the problem, report it to Apple
- No response from Apple
- Increased number of people report the issue
- No response from Apple
- Apple apologists dismiss the reports as very rare, the result of trolling, or exaggeration by drama queens
- Even more reports of the problem
- No response from Apple
- News of the problem hits blogs
- Apple apologists dismiss the blogs as simply engaging in clickbait
- No response from Apple
- Those affected by the issue threaten a class-action lawsuit
- Apple apologists decry the "sue happy" nature of American consumers
- Apple acknowledges the legitimacy of the problem
- Apple apologists are silent
- Apple release an update to correct the problem or
- They set up a "program" to address the problem.
- Apple gains some positive publicity
- Apple apologists applaud Apple for doing the "right thing". (for an issue that they said from day-1 was not actually an issue)
- First hand experience with the “program” reveals very strict guidelines and restrictions that greatly reduce the number of affected customers that can participate in the program.
This is a post of pure perfection
Spot. On.
This is simply our reptile overlords reminding us that nothing is ever truly deleted and they can use that against us at any time if they so desire.
And do we also agree that when the deleted space is overwritten the original data is virtually unrecoverable, in whole, except in rare cases where pieces of it may be recoverable?
In any case, I'll be holding off on updating until this bug is resolved. I did a massive cull of duplicate photos, accidental screenshots, terrible photos and no longer needed work stuff that took me some time and I have no desire to have to do it twice.
@kaved, thank you for taking the time to comment/correct, especially on the GDPR 😀. The U.S. lacks a precisely equivalent law. We have a mish-mash of weaker rules that stretch between: (A.) Allowing knuckleheads to harm themselves, while protecting enterprise; and (B.) Protecting knuckleheads from their own shenanigans, at the expense of enterprise' freedom to generate profit. The U.S. typically protects profit; it's what we do.
Personally, I believe that enterprises offering data processing services are 100% obligated - morally and ethically, if not legally - to handle customers' data responsibly. On the street, we all know what that means, but that's not how the internet's business model evolved. If people had to pay the actual, equitable price for services, most of the internet would collapse immediately. The internet's bills are getting paid by a round-robin ponzi scheme of daily advertising cash flows and click fraud.
Meanwhile, any CEO who actually sacrifices one thin dime of profit over regulatory compliance will be fired in an activist shareholder coup. Dig deep enough, we sometimes find that certain big shareholders are either in Congress, or financially influenced by lobbyists through dark moneyed PACs, "Inauguration Funds", pork barrel kickbacks, etc. That's why criminal penalties for PII & financial data breaches are laughable: Legislators with financial interests ensure that it remains less expensive for an enterprise to pay the fines, than it is to comply with laws.
Cynical dystopian melodrama aside, and with no suggestion whatsoever that enterprise be let off the hook... There remain binary choices for how to play the game. We can choose hardware, software, methods and procedures that are less sensitive to data crime and compliance fails. We can accept personal responsibility to work around those parts, and live with those outcomes (extra clicks, manual file management, less portability) - like 1998 when 993s were affordable.
In the U.S., aluminum extension ladders are for sale. They are cheaper than fiberglass. Overhead power cables are not electrically insulated. Winning a Darwin Award is a choice.
Personally, I believe that enterprises offering data processing services are 100% obligated - morally and ethically, if not legally - to handle customers' data responsibly. On the street, we all know what that means, but that's not how the internet's business model evolved. If people had to pay the actual, equitable price for services, most of the internet would collapse immediately. The internet's bills are getting paid by a round-robin ponzi scheme of daily advertising cash flows and click fraud.
Meanwhile, any CEO who actually sacrifices one thin dime of profit over regulatory compliance will be fired in an activist shareholder coup. Dig deep enough, we sometimes find that certain big shareholders are either in Congress, or financially influenced by lobbyists through dark moneyed PACs, "Inauguration Funds", pork barrel kickbacks, etc. That's why criminal penalties for PII & financial data breaches are laughable: Legislators with financial interests ensure that it remains less expensive for an enterprise to pay the fines, than it is to comply with laws.
Cynical dystopian melodrama aside, and with no suggestion whatsoever that enterprise be let off the hook... There remain binary choices for how to play the game. We can choose hardware, software, methods and procedures that are less sensitive to data crime and compliance fails. We can accept personal responsibility to work around those parts, and live with those outcomes (extra clicks, manual file management, less portability) - like 1998 when 993s were affordable.
In the U.S., aluminum extension ladders are for sale. They are cheaper than fiberglass. Overhead power cables are not electrically insulated. Winning a Darwin Award is a choice.
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No one has ever responded to that question before? First I’m seeing it. I’d have referred you to PC Principal of South Park. Woke is basically just the most recent way of saying “politically correct”. Previous usage was being knowledgeable about hidden things.
I get the impression you aren’t asking because you don’t know. It’s simply being overly politically correct.
This was discovered during the beta and a Feedback was submitted (not by me).
Whether Apple discovered this is unknown.