iOS error causes deleted photos to “come back to life”: Apple needs to explain!

Apple has just released a patch update for iOS and iPadOS 17.5.1 operating systems. Patching software errors is normal, but the problem here is not so simple. This update fixes a “rare” bug where deleted photos could return to the Photos library even though the user had deleted them. Unfortunately, that’s all Apple announced.

On iOS, deleted photos will be saved for 30 days in the Recently Deleted folder before disappearing completely. However, the act of deleting photos shows that users want to get rid of them permanently. Obviously, the automatic return of deleted photos causes confusion for users. This is a serious privacy issue. It raises questions about how Apple stores photo data and whether iPhone users can trust that deleted data is actually deleted.

What’s worrying is that Apple remains silent. We don’t know how widespread this bug is. Some iPhone users report that deleted voice messages also return. Does this bug only affect people who use iCloud photo backup? There are even cases where old photos appear on iPads that have been sold to others. The update only confirms the bug exists, causes the problem, and is related to a database error. Apple’s silence in response to the request for explanation makes users worry about the possibility of a repeat.

Normally, no file is actually deleted until it is overwritten. However, to users, when Apple says a file has been permanently deleted, it means it is completely gone.

Errors are unavoidable. Cybersecurity researchers continually find vulnerabilities. Typically, they report issues to the companies involved before they are exploited and only disclose vulnerabilities after they are patched. Apple may want to wait for the bug to be patched to prevent bad guys from exploiting it, but that doesn’t mean they have the right to stay silent forever.

Apple has built an image as a company that values ​​privacy. They constantly advertise software updates that encrypt data so that even Apple doesn’t know what’s going on on your phone. Apple emphasizes that users can trust its service because privacy is a core value. Being transparent is a sign of a company that truly believes in protecting user privacy. Hiding the problem is not!