iOS has been saving your SMS and iMessage attachments even after you've deleted them, according to several tips received from iClarified readers.
When receiving an attachment via the Messages app, iOS stores the attachment in /var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments directory. Once an attachment is deleted the related files should be removed from the directory. Unfortunately, it appears that this has not been the case for some versions of iOS.
We used two devices, one on iOS 6.0 and another on iOS 6.1, to test the issue. After receiving an iMessage with a photo attachment on iOS 6.0, we examined the attachments directory to locate the file. We then deleted the attachment from the message history. Reexamining the directory showed the file was still there! Notably, the attachments directory is accessible without a jailbreak and is backed up to the computer each time you sync, or to iCloud if you use iCloud backups. This makes it quite easy to access. The files persisted even after a reboot.
We then performed the same test using a device on iOS 6.1. Fortunately, after deleting the attachment, it was deleted from the device.
It appears that Apple may have stealthily corrected the issue with iOS 6.1; however, it is still a major security concern for users on earlier firmware versions and users with device backups on their computer or iCloud. In addition, it appears that this bug may explain why some users have been reporting missing free space on their device. For those users these attachments have been accumulating over time and could be causing GBs of wasted space on their device.
One source tells us that he found images on his device that were deleted over two years ago. Unfortunately, the images can't be easily deleted as you probably don't want to wipe all your attachments. However, if you are worried about security it might be a good idea.
Jailbroken users can delete everything in their attachments directory by executing "rm -R /var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/*" in MobileTerminal or deleting the content of the directory using iFile; however, this reportedly can cause problems with third party tweaks such as BiteSMS.
Non-jailbroken users may be able to modify a backup of their device to remove the 'deleted' attachments and then restore that back to their device. The best solution is of course a clean restore to iOS 6.1.
Please let us know in the comments if you've been experiencing this issue and if iOS 6.1 has resolved it.
iOS 6.0 (FAILS TO DELETE ATTACHMENTS):
iOS 6.1 (SUCCESSFULLY DELETES ATTACHMENTS):
Add Comment
Would you like to be notified when someone replies or adds a new comment?
Yes (All Threads)
Yes (This Thread Only)
No
Notifications
Would you like to be notified when we post a new Apple news article or tutorial?
Recover the deleted SMS attachments from this I think it's a little trouble. Why not use a recovery software to recover deleted files from iPhone? Like FonePaw iPhone Data Recovery which is popular from people to restore some lost data from iPhone or iPad. And the most important is that it's convenient to recover and easy to use.
I have that exact issue; but I am unsure how to clear all deleted messages with attachments I have tried restoring my iphone to factory settings but all that did was delete my itunes!!??!! I am not a computer programmer over here but step by step how to do this will help me out alot!!
I tried to figure it out, but I eventually gave up. I suspect the details are purged from the messages database, but the raw attachments are left intact, making it impossible to see who sent/received the attachments or any related test messages. However, if you have a jailbroken iPhone, you can look at the folders containing the attachments to see when they were created and at least get an idea of when the messages were sent/received.
Those attachments used 5Gb of my iphone...
I was looking everywhere for those others file (classic directory you found on forums or tutorials to get rid of other place, till i found this article.
5Gb of loose place filled with photos of my kid took long long time ago...
You do realize your home wireless router is used as a location iDevice? Not for locating you for anyone that comes in range of your wireless router. These files are not stored on the iDevice that comes in range of the wireless router, but they are stored / sent somewhere. Isn't wonderful that be cared about so much.
You are just now figuring this out? Well to be honest everything from text, emails, pictures, and your location even if you turned it off , basicly anything and everything you have done on your iPhone is still there from day one you turned it on.
hey, look at i0n1c,com. There is very interesting info for iOS 5 resalee. I think i0n1c is working at untethered jailbreak for iOS5 and soon will publish first version. What will be name for new jailbreak or meybe he will give his exploit for Dev Team?
Hi. I have no knowledge in any dlnoeepmevt and would like to take advantage of the appstore's money making features. I know it may take years to learn, does anyone have any suggestions for tutorials that won't bore a 12 year old out of his mind???Yes, I know it is far fetched and I would like to do other things than just making money. Is there a way to learn C without prior references to languages?
>>>>>>>>>>I've found this almost 2 month ago while I was rooting my Iphone and I called the german apple service "why are there still messages and numbers after deleting them" the one at the service-center could answer my question and I think he wasnt even allowed to answer them -.- fck apple !!!!!! they are working with CIA together.<<<<<<<<<<<<
This is kind of old news, in my country it was all over the news like almost 2 years ago that Apple is saving your GPS routs and that they can turn on the microphone and camera from on commend, I don't know how they kept it off the news in the U.S but the GPS part was leaked and Cydia came out with an App that delete the file and stop Apple from spying on our location, then it made it to the courts and Apple layers said that they are studying our routs so they can give us better service ( that was like a year before Apple Maps ) any way the courts made Apple stop it but nothing about the microphone and cameras was mentioned. but in the news here they also showed how the FBI busted 5 mobsters by listening and watching them plan a murder and they showed the whole thing that the FBI saw and heard. there are all kind of talk about the goverment asking Apple to build a phone that you can't take the battery out for just that reason, also the Feds or CIA will pay up to $200,000 for a good jailbreak ( Cydia paid $30,000,000 for the guys that created the 5.1.1 jailbreak, I bet they paid much more for the long awaited 6.1 jailbreak ) So nothing would surprise me when Apple name comes up!!!
This is bad for people that are cheating on their girlfriends or wives or simply doing some criminal shit... Otherwise a picture or video in a text message should definitely not f with your security or anything else... I mean like some information in a pictures or video put in an instant message, you shouldn't get in trouble for that... first of all your text messages are private property of yours police and other authorities should not have easy access or any access if you haven't done anything criminal!
It has nothing to do with any human behavior. Stop defending apple. It's something that should have been fixed ages ago. Which takes me back to the previous article about jailbreaking, I've had more problems with iOS itself then anything jailbreak has brought. Also on top of it jailbreakers can easily remove the dormant space wasting images that act deleted but are not, that normal users have to restore there phones from a full restore point because even there backup may still have those images. It's BS!
There is another issue with messages, If you delete a contact with an iPhone that uses iMessage, if you type the name of the contact it'll still appear. It's really annoying.
![New Mac Studio Could Arrive This Week [Gurman]](/images/news/96629/96629/96629-160.jpg "New Mac Studio Could Arrive This Week [Gurman]")
![Apple to Unveil New M4 MacBook Air Tomorrow [Gurman]](/images/news/96628/96628/96628-160.jpg "Apple to Unveil New M4 MacBook Air Tomorrow [Gurman]")
![Apple M4 Mac Mini on Sale for $529 [Lowest Price Ever]](/images/news/96632/96632/96632-160.jpg "Apple M4 Mac Mini on Sale for $529 [Lowest Price Ever]")
![AirTags 4-Pack Drops to Another Record Low - Just $64.49! [Deal]](/images/news/96589/96589/96589-160.jpg "AirTags 4-Pack Drops to Another Record Low - Just $64.49! [Deal]")
![Apple M4 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro (48GB RAM, 1TB SSD) On Sale for $435 Off [Deal]](/images/news/96576/96576/96576-160.jpg "Apple M4 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro (48GB RAM, 1TB SSD) On Sale for $435 Off [Deal]")
![New Apple M4 Mac Mini On Sale for $549 [Deal]](/images/news/96553/96553/96553-160.jpg "New Apple M4 Mac Mini On Sale for $549 [Deal]")
![Anker Announces New Sale: Up to 52% Off Smart Scales, Speakers, and More! [Deal]](/images/news/96542/96542/96542-160.jpg "Anker Announces New Sale: Up to 52% Off Smart Scales, Speakers, and More! [Deal]")
