Be Sure to Wipe Your Old Devices Before Selling
Wednesday, October 16th, 2019 -- 7:39 AM
(WRN) -If you're going to be selling or donating your old phone, be sure you're not leaving data behind for someone else to find.If you're looking to trade in your old phone or computer, make sure you're not accidentally giving crooks a shot at your data. State consumer protection director Michelle Reinen says you don't want whoever else might be buying that phone to get access to your files and accounts.
"Remember to completely erase your data, and reset the phone to its initial factory setting."
Reinen says the best way to do that is to do a factory reset of your device.
"That will then cleanse that device of all your information. So be sure that you back it up before you do that, if you want to be able to save any of that information off the phone for yourself."
Reinen says that means properly formatting or destroying the data on the hard drive, and not just putting it in the recycle bin.
"And you need to be sure that you are wiping them truly off the hard drive, as opposed to just delete and not being able to see them, but have them still really be there."
For a more permanent method of data destruction, pull that hard drive out of the computer case and put a nail through it or smash it with a hammer.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.