How do I retrieve a forgotten password for my encrypted backup?

Question

Ive set a password for my backups on iTunes 10.2.2. and I have forgotten it! There is no "Forgot your password" button anywhere!! How do I get past this crap???!!!

Answer 1

I'm sorry you forgot your password, and have to recreate a backup of your phone.
But encrypted files, and passwords are your responsibility to save.
Hammeredd wrote:
What idiot came up with a password system which has no failsafe?
There are plenty of systems that do not have failsafe for lost passwords.
My Visa and bank cards do not have a "failsafe" pin number.
Encrypted folders, disk images e.t.c do not have failsafe passwords.
What the encrypted back up does is encrypt your data using a key (the "password") that you supply.
In order to have a "fail safe" as you put it, the key would have to be saved somewhere else.
This then it would have to be stored on your computer.
But would you need it also protected? Yes, otherwise it is a useless password.
They could put it in your keychain, which has a password to protect it.
But what if you forget keychain password?
Where should Apple put a failsafe copy of your keychain password?
How about in another encrypted file, with a password.... what if you forget that password?
This could go on forever.
...every other system we use has a facility to either email your password to you or have you answer a number of security questions to change it.
Are you suggesting that Apple store all encrypted file passwords on their servers?
I am sure then there would be an uproar over Apple being "Big Brother".
no security system is worth losing all your information, this must be a mistake.
No mistake. This is normal practice.
There is also an option to delete your iPhone if the wrong passcode is put in 10 times.
I have that.
If someone tries to get into my phone I would rather have all the data deleted.
But then I back up data, and save passwords.
THERE MUST BE A WAY OF RECOVERING THIS BACKUP INFORMATION!!!!
There is not. The data is encrypted.
That's the point, no one can get it; unless they apply and very complicated decryption system and spend a lot of time on it (like the CIA)
otherwise my intention to buy my partner an iphone has just bit the dust. And this one will be going as well.
So because you made a mistake in not reading, and not saving your password?
There is a clear warning when you choose to encrypt your backup.
This really is a case of you not taking responsibility for your own mistake.
You made a mistake.
Now step up and accept it; and don't make it again.
What you can do in future is create a "note" in your keychain and save your passwords there if you are prone to losing passwords.