iPhone 2.1: Automatic Secure Wipe after Passcode Failures

What if it's an honest person who found your phone and they are going to turn it in, but since it won't shut up, they just toss it in a bush and say "shut up!"

Then my personal information is safely hidden in the bush!

However, I have a better idea. How bout' if Apple lets us define one screenful of text (or maybe text and an image) that is to be displayed when the password is repeatedly wrong. We can put our own message there, giving contact information if we want, offering a reward, chastising an assumed thief, thanking an honest person for returning the phone, or whatever else we want.

Wow, very neat. And it can't be stopped since the iPod has no user-serviceable battery.

Except what ghappens if it runs out of power mid-wipe?

I would rather have remote wipe via Mobile Me or a similar feature. This doesn't mean much because if you lose the phone, I doubt someone will try 10 times to get in.

it's a good idea, but I think even better would be the remote wipe. Not necessarily using mobile me but if your iphone gets stolen it's nice to be assured that you can remotely wipe the data. Oh well...

remote wipe is available in corporate environments with iphone...i assume they could implement this to consumers with mobileme somehow

would be good if it could be totally bricked and could only be reset by taking into an Apple store with proof of id

would be good if it could be totally bricked and could only be reset by taking into an Apple store with proof of id

Great idea. Better yet, if it shows a buggy home screen with limited use of the apps to access stuff that doesn't reveal any personal data, and then immediately lets you use your mobile me account to access a map application on your computer to find it via gps. Maybe take a couple of pics as well.

I mean, it would be nice to choose yourself if you want to enable yourself as big brother.

I think the key thing is it can protect your sensitive data (I have tons of account information on my phone, gmail, msn, AIM, etc etc, not to mention family/friend details & family pictures). Its comforting that this is now protected, im far less bothered about bricking the phone; the most important thing is keeping my private and personal stuff out of the hands off the thief

would be good if it could be totally bricked and could only be reset by taking into an Apple store with proof of id

That would be cool. The phone would be locked on a screen that displays info from your "me" address book card, with your photo displayed. At that point the thief would either have to give the thing back or throw it away. It'd be useless otherwise.