Cash for mobiles (e.g. Mazuma) and identity theft...

snuffle_-_uk · 23-03-2011, 08:56

If i was to use a service like Mazuma to get some money for my old mobile, i would definitely follow any instructions to delete texts / contacts / etc.

However, i always worry that such data can be recovered from a phone even if seemingly deleted from the device, and following on from that I have concerns about the motivations (e.g. identity theft) of some of the people who can end up buying used phones from companies like Mazuma.

Am i being paranoid?

Red Arrow · 23-03-2011, 10:20

Yes

As long as you do a factory reset you should be safe, it will wipe all data.

I know on old hard drives the data would still be there so you have to use some eraser program. But I'm pretty sure for mobile devices since they use a form of flash memory that this isn't the case. Can anyone else verify / deny this?

colinp · 23-03-2011, 10:23

you can recover data from flash memory, but the chances of finding anything usefull ie address , card numbers ect is very very low , it wouldnt be worth the agro, there is much easyer ways to get that

darkone338 · 23-03-2011, 12:01

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03...bayed_mobiles/

"A total of 247 pieces of data were recovered from a total 19 of the 35 mobile phones and 27 of the 50 SIM cards. Data left on these handsets and communication devices included many photos (including pornographic images), bank details, login details for social networking sites and PIN numbers as well as private texts and emails."

Red Arrow · 23-03-2011, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkone338

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03...bayed_mobiles/

"A total of 247 pieces of data were recovered from a total 19 of the 35 mobile phones and 27 of the 50 SIM cards. Data left on these handsets and communication devices included many photos (including pornographic images), bank details, login details for social networking sites and PIN numbers as well as private texts and emails."

Yeah, but I bet you anything the ones they recovered data from didn't do a factory reset.

darkone338 · 23-03-2011, 13:16

Sellers still forget to take out SD cards and SIMs that continue to hold data beyond a factory reset.

ih8mondays · 23-03-2011, 17:52

even a factory reset menu on my phone didn't delete half the stuff, had to type in some uber-code to completely wipe the thing.

prking · 23-03-2011, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkone338

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03...bayed_mobiles/

"A total of 247 pieces of data were recovered from a total 19 of the 35 mobile phones and 27 of the 50 SIM cards. Data left on these handsets and communication devices included many photos (including pornographic images), bank details, login details for social networking sites and PIN numbers as well as private texts and emails."

That article isn't talking about recycling handsets, its discussing handsets which have been sold second hand (eg ebay etc )

linux.root · 23-03-2011, 18:55

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/cele...lackberry.html

23-03-2011, 08:56	#1
snuffle_-_uk Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 551	Cash for mobiles (e.g. Mazuma) and identity theft... If i was to use a service like Mazuma to get some money for my old mobile, i would definitely follow any instructions to delete texts / contacts / etc. However, i always worry that such data can be recovered from a phone even if seemingly deleted from the device, and following on from that I have concerns about the motivations (e.g. identity theft) of some of the people who can end up buying used phones from companies like Mazuma. Am i being paranoid?

23-03-2011, 10:20	#2
Red Arrow Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Mars Posts: 10,688	Yes As long as you do a factory reset you should be safe, it will wipe all data. I know on old hard drives the data would still be there so you have to use some eraser program. But I'm pretty sure for mobile devices since they use a form of flash memory that this isn't the case. Can anyone else verify / deny this?

23-03-2011, 10:23	#3
colinp Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: london Posts: 1,241	you can recover data from flash memory, but the chances of finding anything usefull ie address , card numbers ect is very very low , it wouldnt be worth the agro, there is much easyer ways to get that

23-03-2011, 12:01	#4
darkone338 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 718	http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03...bayed_mobiles/ "A total of 247 pieces of data were recovered from a total 19 of the 35 mobile phones and 27 of the 50 SIM cards. Data left on these handsets and communication devices included many photos (including pornographic images), bank details, login details for social networking sites and PIN numbers as well as private texts and emails."

23-03-2011, 12:27	#5
Red Arrow Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Mars Posts: 10,688	Quote: Originally Posted by darkone338 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03...bayed_mobiles/ "A total of 247 pieces of data were recovered from a total 19 of the 35 mobile phones and 27 of the 50 SIM cards. Data left on these handsets and communication devices included many photos (including pornographic images), bank details, login details for social networking sites and PIN numbers as well as private texts and emails." Yeah, but I bet you anything the ones they recovered data from didn't do a factory reset.

23-03-2011, 13:16	#6
darkone338 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 718	Sellers still forget to take out SD cards and SIMs that continue to hold data beyond a factory reset.

23-03-2011, 17:52	#7
ih8mondays Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,114	even a factory reset menu on my phone didn't delete half the stuff, had to type in some uber-code to completely wipe the thing.

23-03-2011, 18:46	#8
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Quote: Originally Posted by darkone338 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03...bayed_mobiles/ "A total of 247 pieces of data were recovered from a total 19 of the 35 mobile phones and 27 of the 50 SIM cards. Data left on these handsets and communication devices included many photos (including pornographic images), bank details, login details for social networking sites and PIN numbers as well as private texts and emails." That article isn't talking about recycling handsets, its discussing handsets which have been sold second hand (eg ebay etc )

23-03-2011, 18:55	#9
linux.root Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 270	http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/cele...lackberry.html

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Cash for mobiles (e.g. Mazuma) and identity theft...