99% of recycled phones still has old data

MA-Caver

Sr. Grandmaster
MT Mentor
Joined
Aug 21, 2003
Messages
14,960
Reaction score
312
Location
Chattanooga, TN
Traded in your old cell phone for that newer model... you DID remove ALL the data from it didn't you??
Tch, too bad.

Report: 99% of recycled cell phones still contain owner data

Tue Feb 3, 2009 11:09AM EST

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/118074/report-99-of-recycled-cell-phones-still-contain-owner-data/
The reports of owners purchasing used or refurbished cell phones and other gadgets and finding sensitive material on them have become so commonplace they're no longer eyebrow-raising in the slightest. Why, last week a New Zealand man bought a used MP3 player for about 10 bucks... and was bemused to find it preloaded with U.S. military records and personnel data for troops stationed in the Middle East. In December, an old BlackBerry sold at a McCain campaign garage sale for 20 dollars was found to be preloaded with a mountain of Republican donor information, emails, and more. Just another day at the flea market, it seems...

What would be THE best way to ensure that the memory is totally wiped clean... barring destroying the entire device?
 

Latest Discussions

Top