iPhone OS 3.0: Encrypt iPhone Backups in iTunes 8.1
iPhone OS 3.0 is the gift that just keeps on giving, this time revealing features in iTunes 8.1 we hadn’t seen before. Now, when you hook an iPhone running the 3.0 beta 1 software up, under the Summary tab you have a new option: Encrypt iPhone backup.
Checking off the option opens a pop-up window for you to enter your password.
We’re not sure yet what form of encryption Apple is using, though the Steve Gibson is us hopes it’s something with a really, really strong security focus. Especially for those in enterprise or government who might have a need for it.
(And when the time comes, using a really gnarly password like the kind GRC.com’s perfect passwords generates would be a great idea for the truly security conscious.)
March 19th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
What benefits will an average consumer get from this ? We haven’t encrypted before…
March 20th, 2009 at 5:13 am
Great option its just another check off feature
March 20th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Steve Gibson? Really? That guy’s a total joker, poor choice for a reference.
@Omari the benefit is that if someone gets access to your iPhone backup they can’t swipe your data.
March 20th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Hmm. I really don’t know how useful this is. I mean, what is it encrypting? My calendar? My contacts? If somebody has access to my PC, they already have access to those.
I suppose that, if you had an email password in the email config file, that would be worth encrypting. I would be very disappointed to learn that Apple wasn’t encrypting this in the config file already, though.
So, I guess what I am asking is, what information is sensitive in the backup anyway?
March 25th, 2009 at 7:37 am
This – exactly this – would be the very best new feature. Me and my friends have been waiting for nothing more than that. Security matters!
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:02 pm
I guess the reason for this is the password manager that has been added to Safari Mobile in 3.0.
May 26th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I forgot my Restore password and my phone got wet. Anyone know how to crack it yet?
June 9th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
brizzel… it keeps on saying i have the wrong pass. lemme know if you find a way to crack it…
June 17th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
the same thing keeps happening to me!
July 1st, 2009 at 7:30 am
I forget my backup password what can I do?
July 1st, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Omari James, YGT, mae, steven, Brizzel, Druce: You are an idiot.
AnteL0pe: You are an even bigger idiot.
August 8th, 2009 at 2:07 am
As far as we know today, iPhone backup encryption is 0% effective… see this: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrNerveGas
(just so no one is grossly mislead)
August 27th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Since all you had to do was hold down the center button for 25 sec then plug into iTUNES and you had a restored fresh iPHONE. This feature could be useful. NOW BACK TO THE DANK
August 28th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
I also forgot my password. I still have my iPhone, and was just playing around with this feature. Now I am trying to change or just remive the encryption all together, and it keeps telling me “incorrect password” on every password I enter. I am pretty sure I am entering the correct password. Any issues or sugestions from anyone else on this?
September 16th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
iJack, i had the same problem as you. I was vigerously entering the same password over and over again determined i was right but it never worked. after looking on the web for little and ending up here, i finally went back to iTunes and tried it just once more… sure enough it worked and i entered the same password as before. apple just sucks. so try restarting iTunes or just try again.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
i too have thought i had WRONG or FORGOTTEN password…
i took the advise from last post and restarted iTunes, entered my password and it worked.
just a gliche i believe. oh well… i now have it removed.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:54 am
this encript iphone back up, does this password mean that the back up obviously copies everything to the phone but does it mean that if someone wnats to access my backup file on the computer they need a password?? because i have private files on my phone and im using my brothers computer to back it up and im just hoping he cannot access my files whilst my phone isnt connected to the USB