• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Apple releases an urgent security update that fixes a 'rare' bug that caused deleted photos to be restored

Home> Apple> iPhone

Published 11:07 22 May 2024 GMT+1

Apple releases an urgent security update that fixes a 'rare' bug that caused deleted photos to be restored

This bug was causing issues, and you can fix it now with a software update.

Prudence Wade

Prudence Wade

iPhone users the world over got a rare surprise in recent weeks when a rare bug started popping up in the latest version of iOS.

Although software updates on iPhone are normally pretty rigorously tested, it looks like the bug snuck through into the wide release, because Apple fairly quickly acknowledged its existence, and has now released a security update to quickly fix it.

What was the bug, you ask?

Well, some people found that after installing the iOS 17.5 update, their iPhones started to resurface photos they'd deleted, in some cases even months and months beforehand, and thought were gone forever.

Advert

Some users on social media reported seeing photos that they deleted years ago.

Now, Apple has released software version 17.5.1 to address the problem and a few other minor security questions, and in the notes for the update, it's addressed the bug.

NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty

It says: "This update provides important bug fixes and addresses a rare issue where photos that experienced database corruption could reappear in the photos library even if they were deleted."

Advert

That gives us more information than we might have expected about what caused the issue, with that "database corruption" clearly being important, although exactly how a two-year-old deleted photo could become entangled in a "database corruption" is anyone's guess.

While it's great that Apple has moved quickly to fix the problem, of course, it's also noteworthy that there are people on social media who are less than thrilled about the possible implications of the bug - namely, that your deleted photos might not have vanished as securely as you'd think.

One person on a Reddit thread about the bug said: "Some pictures from a few years ago has come back for me. It's really is shocking. They are in the recent images actually that's what is worrying me."

John Keeble / Contributor / Getty
John Keeble / Contributor / Getty

Advert

Depending on the content of the images it would be easy to imagine scenarios where them being in your "recent images" folder could look pretty suspect - even if they were just innocent holiday snaps with an ex, your current partner might not be thrilled to glimpse them, for example.

To download the latest version of iOS and get rid of the potential bug, then, all you have to do is go to Settings on your iPhone, tap on General, and then Software Update.

If the update is available to you, you can tap "Update Now" to begin the process and protect yourself from any risky images.

Featured Image Credit: Nadija Pavlovic / NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
iPhone
Apple
Tech tips
Tech News

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

a day ago
2 days ago
  • NurPhoto / Contributor / GettyNurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
    a day ago

    iPhone users 'disturbed' after discovering shocking design element hidden in plain sight

    The discovery has left people stunned

    Apple
  • Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesJakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
    a day ago

    iPhone users are just discovering 'life-changing' hidden feature that's 'so simple but so useful'

    The iPhone hack is a simple tap but can be 'life changing'

    Apple
  • NurPhoto / Contributor via GettyNurPhoto / Contributor via Getty
    2 days ago

    Apple insider reveals new leaks about foldable iPhone release for 2026

    The iPhone 18 lineup could be the most innovative yet

    Apple
  • NurPhoto / Contributor via GettyNurPhoto / Contributor via Getty
    2 days ago

    iPhone owners 'obsessed' with little-known texting hack that they're using every single day

    This could transform the way you communicate with your friends

    Apple
  • Apple release urgent new update for all iPhone users to fix major security bug
  • iPhone owners 'obsessed' with little-known texting hack that they're using every single day
  • Little-known iPhone feature can vastly improve the quality of phone calls
  • Apple reveals exactly what to do if you get notified that an AirTag is tracking your location