Android users who are looking to sell their old devices should be
wary of the possible consequences. McAfee identity theft researcher
Robert Siciliano warned that personal data from Android devices is not
completely removed after a user activates the built-in wipe option, The Los Angeles Times
reported on Friday. “What’s really scary is even if you follow
protocol, the data is still there,” Siciliano said. If you have a BlackBerry or Apple
device, Siciliano said your data can be fully deleted by following the
manufacturer’s directions. As for smartphones running the Android
operating system and computers running Windows XP, Siciliano recommends
that people don’t bother with selling them at all. “Put it in the back
of a closet, or put it in a vise and drill holes in the hard drive, or
if you live in Texas take it out into a field and shoot it,” he said.
“You don’t want to sell your identity for 50 bucks.” To test the
security of various platforms, Siciliano purchased 30 smartphones and
computers from Craigslist. The researcher was able to access personal
data from 15 of the 30 devices through his own hacking efforts and the
help of a forensic expert. The data obtained included bank account
information, Social Security numbers, child support documents and credit
card account log-ins.
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