Outraged!! iPhone 4 automatically wiped itself, by itself!! Why?

Question

Outraged!! iPhone 4 automatically wiped itself, by itself!! Why?

So i was sitting in front of my phone this morning, when all of a sudden it just switched off and went into remote wipe mode. I then got an email from iCloud:

Fantastic!! Maybe it was mind control or something!! I then got very pannicky and changed my apple ID password thinking that someone had got hold of it. I've restored from a backup on my computer because when i tried to do it from the Setup new iPhone > Restore from iCloud backup, it said 'No backups availiable'. I guess i hadn't switched on iCloud backups....but i thought i had!?!

So i've got my stuff back via iTunes backup but lost days of data since the last computer backup was early March. I am not a happy bunny. Any experts want to shed some light on this, i would appreciate it.

Thanks,

Alex

iPhone 4, iOS 4.3.2

Posted on Mar 22, 2012 3:39 AM

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Answer 1

Lukas B

Level 1

14 points

Mar 22, 2012 3:55 AM in response to Alexander Duncan

Do you are using any Microsoft Exchange profiles on your IPhone?

Because there is a function on Microsoft Exchange, more exactly I think on the Outlook Web Access (OWA) at "mobile Devices" you can start a wipe out of any device connected with this account. Usually not only the user of this account also the Sys-Admin of the Exchange system can do it.

And this wipe out is called "Remote Wipe".

So far the question is.

Do you work with exchange?

Dit you resign with a company and/or any other organisation using exchange where you have been using Exchange from them?

Did anybody have access do your exchange - system or outlook web access?

greets Lukas

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Answer 2

Mar 22, 2012 4:19 AM in response to Lukas B

No and i've recently erased any sign of Microsoft from my life! No Exchange profiles on my devices to my knowledge.

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Answer 3

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Mar 22, 2012 4:20 AM in response to Alexander Duncan

Did you buy this iPhone new or had it a previous owner? Did you buy it recently?

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Answer 4

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Mar 22, 2012 4:21 AM in response to Alexander Duncan

Got any "friends/relatives/ex-GF's" that know your Apple ID & password?

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Answer 5

Lukas B

Level 1

14 points

Mar 22, 2012 4:29 AM in response to wjosten

The I can only agree with wjosten. It looks like that somebody intrude your apple id and started the wipe out process. That you change your appl-id password was a imortant step and if there is no upcoming issue like that it could be nearly to 100% that you had been intruded, but for sure nobody can grant this.

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Answer 6

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,813 points

Mar 22, 2012 5:19 AM in response to Alexander Duncan

Yep. A third voice voting for 'someone has your iCloud ID and password'. Maybe you ticked somone off...

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Answer 7

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Mar 22, 2012 6:05 AM in response to Alexander Duncan

Since it was erased from iCloud it may be the "find my iPhone" service. That's why I asked.

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Answer 8

Mar 22, 2012 6:23 AM in response to KiltedTim

I've never given my password to anyone, very worrying! And seems this is the first time its happened?

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Answer 9

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,813 points

Mar 22, 2012 6:29 AM in response to Alexander Duncan

Then make sure you change it, because it seems someone has managed to get hold of it.

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Answer 10

JimmyG.

Level 1

8 points

Mar 23, 2012 9:48 AM in response to Alexander Duncan

This happened to me this morning!!

Turns out, i did resign from an organization and i did have MS Exchange profile for my work email on my iPhone 4S. I'm awaiting confirmation, but assuming that's what happened. An Email-Admin was able to do a mobile-wipe. It really ruined my day as i lost lots of content.

Apple was able to confirm that no iCloud wipes were initiated, and AT&T didn't think my account was hacked.

Im betting that it was MS Exchange that caused my loss.

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Answer 11

Lukas B

Level 1

14 points

Apr 28, 2012 9:59 AM in response to JimmyG.

JimmyG. wrote:

Im betting that it was MS Exchange that caused my loss.

Not MS Exchange only the authorised admin on the other end of the line.

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