iPhone repair could expose privacy; security steps to take before service
iPhone repair could expose privacy; security steps to take before service
Publish Date: 2026-05-25 22:23:00
Source Domain: www.digitaltoday.co.kr
The case showed that smartphone repairs should be handled with personal data protection procedures, not just hardware checks. [Photo: Shutterstock]
Suspicions have been raised that an employee accessed a customer’s private photos during an iPhone repair and sent them to a personal device.
TechRadar, an IT outlet, reported on May 25 that a Best Buy employee in the United States allegedly viewed a customer’s private photos while repairing an iPhone and AirDropped some to the employee’s own phone.
The case is seen as showing how great the risk of exposing personal data can be when an unlocked smartphone is handed to someone else for repairs. The woman reportedly only noticed the act after leaving the store.
Best Buy expressed strong concern over the matter. The company said, “Such allegations are very shocking,” adding, “Nothing is more important than our customers’ safety and data privacy.” It said the employee was no longer with the company and that it was cooperating with law enforcement while the investigation continues.
The issue is not the repair itself but the scope of access. Smartphone repairs may require unlocking the device, but that does not automatically grant the right to look into personal photos, financial information or various app data. Best Buy says its policies also state that, except in limited cases, repair staff are trained not to access customer data. The company stated, “Best Buy subsidiary Geek Squad employees are trained not to access customer device data except in limited circumstances,” adding that exceptions apply only to the extent necessary to perform services, such as when a customer requests data recovery.
The steps suggested by the outlet are straightforward. First, it recommends not leaving sensitive photos in the main photo library and moving them to a hidden folder or secure folder instead. On iPhones,…
