Social media users who turned this older iPhone into a digital camera must heed this warning
If you're using an older iPhone to take pictures, you are opening yourself up to possible security issues.
The iPhone 4, launched in 2010, introduced a whole new look for the iPhone. None other than the Apple CEO at the time, the late Steve Jobs, effusively praised the new design by saying, "This is beyond the doubt the most precise thing and one of the most beautiful we've ever made. Glass on the front and back, and steel around the sides. It's like a beautiful old Leica camera."
Searches for "Buy Phone 4" have risen 979%
That happens to be an interesting choice of a product comparison because it appears that the iPhone 4 is being used as a digital camera by Tik-Tok users. According to Google Trends, searches for "Buy iPhone 4" soared 979% indicating unusual demand for the device. As cool as it sounds to use a 16-year-old sleek-looking older iPhone model as a camera for social media platforms, the iPhone 4 does not support the latest versions of iOS (the oldest iPhone series that receives iOS 26 updates is the iPhone 11), and that is problematic.
According to a press release from Lee Elliott, Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Compare and Recycle, said that those using the iPhone 4 as a digital camera are taking huge security risks. Ellott's presser says, "The iPhone 4 has all the hallmarks of a great vintage digital camera, offering lower resolution, less processed photos that give a distinct and more authentic early 2000s look. When comparing the iPhone 4’s 5MP camera to the latest iPhone 17’s 48MP one, it’s easy to see the appeal of the iPhone 4 for creating an analogue-inspired, grainy aesthetic."
@ivintage2 Get yours from the link in my bio or iVintagefinds.com #iphone #iphone5s #nostalgic #digicam #iphone4 ♬ original sound - ivintage2
But Elliott has a serious warning for those captivated by the images they can take with the device. "However, unlike regular digital cameras, the iPhone 4 comes with digital security risks users may not expect. This is because the latest iOS version that the iPhone 4 can support is iOS 7.1.2 - a version released in 2014. That’s over a decade without updates or security fixes," the CPO stated. "Because of this, the iPhone 4 will not be able to protect any personal data in the way that more modern iPhones do, leaving users vulnerable to issues like data leaks, hacking, and other security breaches."
Follow these tips of you want to safely use the iPhone 4 as a digital camera
Lee did say, "Used with the correct precautions, older iPhones can still serve a creative purpose without exposing your personal information." In order to safely use an iPhone 4 as a camera, Elliott has these recommendations:
- Transfer photos manually by uploading them to your laptop. You can then share them from your laptop using a wired connection. He says that you should not use iCloud to backup your photos.
- Never sign into iCloud or any application or service that requires you sign in with your personal Apple ID.
- Do not install any apps on the phone such as email, banking, or social media apps that include personal information that could allow attackers to access your financial accounts.
- If you use the iPhone 4 as a camera, stay offline. Activate airplane mode and never insert a SIM card.
This is the iPhone model that Steve Jobs told users they were holding wrong
You might remember the iPhone 4 had a few issues when it was first released. This was the phone that caused Antennagate. With the antenna on this model wrapped around the casing of the phone looking like a stainless steel trim, it turned out that touching the bottom left corner of the iPhone 4 with your hand would drop a call you were on. This famously led Steve Jobs to accuse iPhone 4 users of holding their phones wrong.
To eliminate the effects of the "left-handed death grip," Apple sent iPhone 4 users a free rubber bumper. Those who had already purchased one from Apple would be entitled to a refund of their purchase.
You might recall that before the iPhone 4 was unveiled, a prototype of the phone was accidentally left on the floor of a bar wearing a case designed to hide the phone. It was boxier than the iPhone 3GS and featured a front facing camera.
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