Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Image Files "Modified" While iPhone 5 Attached to USB Port -

Oct 10, 2015 11:43AM PDT

I recently used a USB port on my Windows 7 PC to charge my iPhone 5. I affirmed the question 'do you trust this computer' even though I had no new photos to download. I should add that I only have iTunes installed on the iPhone and not on the PC.

After 45 minutes I released the USB connection and soon discovered that about 3500 jpg and png files had been assigned new 'Modified On' dates. Further investigation of randomly selected files showed me that the 'modified' files were often larger, sometimes by as much as 25%.

1) Has anyone else seen this happen?

2) Could this be the result of an iTunes 'sync' process?

3) If so, what do I do to avoid this in the future?

I do not want to restore the structure of my image files (and recover from any jpg quality loss) only to have the same experience another time. I would like to be able to download photos from my iPhone.

thanks

baumgrenze

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
What Win Process Starts/Stops Synchronously w. iPhone & USB?
Oct 14, 2015 10:06PM PDT

I'm more mystified by the replies to this post than I was before I posted it.

I attached an iPhone 5 to a USB port on my Win 7/Pro x64 machine and it triggered a process that started when the iPhone was attached and stopped when it was detached. The process reassigned the 'modified on' date on ~3400 jpg and png files; the new files were either the same size or larger than the originals. I have no easy way to tell if they were degraded.

I'd like to know what kind of processes, Windows or Apple driven, would cause this outcome.

The iPhone and the PC were both mine. There was nothing 'strange' there. The 'trust this computer' shows up on the iPhone each time I attach it to download images. I am now researching alternate ways to access and download images. Tonight I do not trust the interaction between these two devices to be a benign one because I do not understand what happens when they 'talk to each other.'

If I did not make it clear the first time, the files that were modified were all files on the PC, not on the iPhone. To my knowledge Windows did not mess with the iPhone but circumstantial evidence suggests that the iPhone messed with the PC and its files.

I do not have 'whatsapp' installed on either device, to my knowledge. I doubt it was involved.

I am familiar with running malwarbytes on a PC to look for trouble. I gather there is not a version that runs on the iPhone iOS. Is there comparable, safe to use software for this platform?

Does anyone here have anything more to suggest?

thanks

baumgrenze

- Collapse -
Answer
First there was no "sync" process as iTunes,
Oct 10, 2015 12:19PM PDT

the controlling software for sync, is not installed on your PC

Second, I have seen this happen with hard drives attached to a PC. In the process of figuring out what was on the drive, Windows changed the last access date to the current date.

As for getting larger, it depends on where you are reading the size from. The iPhone or Windows.

P

- Collapse -
Answer
Well I also write no but as a guess.
Oct 10, 2015 12:35PM PDT

Windows can have many apps that could tinker with the phone. WMP (ask if you don't know the TLAs) has a setting to organize media. That's just one of the options I wish arrived turned off.

I know my PC but not yours. Next time, don't trust a strange PC.