iPhone Backups: Part 4

Embedding data, particularly text-based data back into an mdbackup file isn't just a matter of setting the value in the dictionary for the @"Data" key. Instead, you need to serialize your output. The code that follows demonstrates a simple way to serialize property lists into an mdbackup-compatible format.

Unfortunately, you cannot simply use this approach to replace the data in a backup file to trick the iPhone into updating a new version. Once you mess with your mdbackup file (notice how the code here produces a second file rather than altering the original), you'll need to synchronize the updated file with the manifest that's used to ensure that untampered files are restored... Continue reading this entry.