Cell Phone Secrets Die Hard

duplo1 writes "According to an article on CNN, "Selling your old phone once you upgrade to a fancier model can be like handing over your diaries. All sorts of sensitive information pile[s] up inside our cell phones, and deleting it may be more difficult than you think." It seems that corporate security policies need to extend their disposal standards to mobile devices; but what is there to educate consumers regarding such a potential breach of privacy?"

Bah

[Cervantes]

I want to blame the sellers for being idiots and not properly clearing their devices... but really, it's the manufacturers who need to be clearer. Having different kind of "wipes" on a device but not labelling them differently is just plain stupid. There needs to be one option called "quick reset", and another called "Secure Wipe - You will lose everything forever, are you really sure???" and then have 5 queries after it. It's bad when a consumer gets misled by thinking "wipe" means "wipe", but I've had devices where I've found that my "wipe" wasn't total either, and it's because the manufacturer is misleading with their instructions.

That said, i remember the good old days, when you didn't loan out your floppies without running a wipe program on them... otherwise the boys found your 'secret stash' that you just deleted.

What a surprise, Delete doesnt Delete

[Robbyboy]

It really makes you wonder where the knowledge gap occurs. Many people know that when you delete files from a computer that they are not really deleted and they could be restored. How could they miss the connection? If you've seen one microchip, you've seen them all. Be afraid, be very afraid...

But anyway, who in their right mind would put sensitive information on a medium that its user can lose control over? (Lets overlook the computers that the government has been misplacing with everyones social security numbers for a split second) You (generally) wouldnt let someone use your computer if it has information that you do not want them to see, why should a cellular telephone be any different.

Next thing you know someone will be surprised at the ability to intercept bluetooth. Someone will be transmitting sensitive information via bluetooth and some buck tooth 14 year old will be around the corner to intercept it...

In closing, since people did not know that their data does not necessarially go away, did you know that if you do not secure a wireless router, people can potentially intercept information?

Its a pity you cannot legislate stupidity...

Re:Bah

[cryfreedomlove]

This is a free market society. Why don't you create a cell phone manufacturing company that's very clear about how to wipe a phone? If the market wants or needs this then you'll get rich.

Personally, I think 99% of the negligence belongs with the consumer who is trying to eek a few pennies out of their old phone.

Proper cell phone design...

[b0s0z0ku]

would involve keeping all data on a removable compact flash card. When the owner sells the phone, the flash card can either be removed and reused in their new phone, or slagged with Thermite.

-b.

Re:Common Sense?

[1u3hr]

Common sense? When a big organisation gets rid of it's old computers it (usually) destroys the harddisks totally. Why should it be any different with mobile phones?

And TFA recommends you should physically destroy your old phones. All very convenient for the phone manufacturers, no competition from the secondhand market. Not to mention the toxic electronic waste. And the phone manufacturers don't provide a simple "wipe/overwrite/wipe command, for fear some idiot will use it unintentionally and complain, or because it takes longer than the "pretend" wipe they do provide that hides but doesn't really delete.

Re:Same non free problem desktops have, times 10.

[Anonymous Coward]

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Re:factory reset?

[yppiz]

If you're on a plan, you get free phones and if you're on a pre-pay, those phones are only good for that plan.

Once you're month-to-month (which normally happens at the end of your plan) you may wish to get a new phone without being locked in for an additional year or two. You can get this year's model on eBay if you really need it, but why bother? Get last year's model for $40 and you've got the freedom of a pay as you go plan but with a much better phone and more predictable monthly costs. It's the best elements of a plan without the contract.

--Pat

Why sell?

[Kuvter]

Whats wrong with this world, why are you selling a cell phone when it still works. If it works for you, keep it. I think you're just wasting money on a new phone that you don't need. Keep your phone and keep your privacy, untill it breaks; then dispose of it accordingly.

Re:No trust for the Bells, that's for sure.

[plague3106]

Even when they don't release it publically, they lack both the competence or will to keep it to themselves. I remember, ten years ago, an acquaintance who taunted a friend with private medical information. She had been a clerk for a debt collection agency and used her access to look up all of her friends. The big dumb companies share things they should not and don't keep tabs on it. Imagine what clerks at ChoicePoint could do, then think of how owned their little windoze terminals are. There's not much real privacy left anymore.

If this is true, and in the US, your friend can sue and easily win as sharing medical data is a HIPPA violation, unless she consented. I believe even then however, the requesing party has to have a ligitimate reason for the medical data; they can't just ask for it for the hell of it.

Re:factory reset?

[plague3106]

Even though it's technically possible, it takes the actual clerk that has disdain for the company to actually let it happen.

Personally I think this is where the government could do some good by putting a regulation in place. This would futher force cell providers to compete more, since you don't lose the inventment of your phone. Phone prices would also likely drop, as you can now use some phones that were not available before on say Verizon.

I think prices are kept artifically high now, just so they can give you 'rebates' to entice you to sign up.