Apple has fixed a bug that was inadvertently storing users' cleared browsing history000 ArchivesiCloud.

Vladimir Katalov, CEO of security firm ElcomSoft, recently told Forbes that he discovered browsing history dating back as far as a year on his iCloud account—despite having cleared it. Katalov did this using ElcomSoft's own "phone breaker" software, which allows you to download your iCloud data, including your old browsing records.

SEE ALSO: 5 easy tricks to make your iPhone storage last longer

Katalov's claim was reportedly validated by an iOS forensics expert, and a Forbes reporter conducted a test on his own device by running the software on his iCloud account. He found browsing data from November 27, 2015, including the visit counts, dates and search terms. Shortly after the article was published, Katalov reportedly reached out to Forbes and said that his old browsing history was no longer accessible.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

In a statement to Mashable, Apple representatives said the problem was caused by a bug they've since resolved.

"To further strengthen the protections we provide customers, we’ve fixed a bug that retained browsing history for longer than we intended," the statement said. "Devices will now have access to this data for 14 days and it will be deleted from our servers within 60 days. Customers can also turn off Safari syncing features at any time."

So, rest easy if you're concerned about your data lingering a bit longer than it should. But maybe double-check your syncing features just to be safe.


Featured Video For You
What it's like to use Apple macOS Sierra

Topics Apple