Deleting/Recovering (Selling) iPhone

Play · #1 05-07-2016

Basically, want to sell an iPhone.

Came across an article that data can easily be recovered even if you do a factory reset (as apparently its like a quick format).

Warning: iPhone "Restore" does not delete personal data - CNET

Any idea how I can permanently delete the files to remove sensitive personal data before selling it on?

empirestate · #2 05-07-2016

the only safest way to for data to be unrecoverable is to shred the device into pieces and burn it and spread ashes across different continents and ship it into the vastness of space.

Gamefreak · #3 05-07-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Play

Basically, want to sell an iPhone.

Came across an article that data can easily be recovered even if you do a factory reset (as apparently its like a quick format).

Warning: iPhone "Restore" does not delete personal data - CNET

Any idea how I can permanently delete the files to remove sensitive personal data before selling it on?

is there even such a thing anymore... the possibility of the next person buying it for your personal data is next to none.

empirestate · #4 05-07-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gamefreak

is there even such a thing anymore... the possibility of the next person buying it for your personal data is next to none.

Totally agree, your personal information ain't worth a penny for a person to go through recovering your data... bwahahah

empirestate · #5 05-07-2016

Here are some resources I found on the net if you are not paranoid with your DATA...

6 Steps to Prepare an iPhone for Sale the Right Way | OSXDaily

How to Sell Your iPhone Safely - Slideshow from PCMag.com

How-To: Safely prepare + wipe your iPhone for resale or trade-in | 9to5Mac

Play · #6 05-07-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by empirestate

the only safest way to for data to be unrecoverable is to shred the device into pieces and burn it and spread ashes across different continents and ship it into the vastness of space.

Would rather go as far as to retain its economical value

Read your articles, seems like what everyone else it pretty much doing at the moment. Nice read, thanks.

Play · #7 05-07-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gamefreak

is there even such a thing anymore... the possibility of the next person buying it for your personal data is next to none.

Was being safe than sorry. Though nice to know nobody does such.

rsot · #8 05-07-2016

I should get into the habit of selling any tech I have before it becomes outdated...I usually just run anything into the ground hah

Play · #9 05-08-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsot

I should get into the habit of selling any tech I have before it becomes outdated...I usually just run anything into the ground hah

You could always wait for it to become an antique, that way the value would end up going up.

**aspkin** · #10 05-15-2016

Lol, I have shred hard drives. And kept on to 10 year old phones instead of selling them because I know how easy someone can rip your data.

My niece's can't touch them either.. not after the hoard of kid app downloads.

rsot · #11 05-16-2016

How'd the sale go Play?

Play · #12 05-16-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsot

How'd the sale go Play?

Sale went smooth, thanks for asking. I didn't go the extra mile to delete files as I didn't have any sensitive files on the phone. Disappointing to know such software doesn't exist to erase/overwrite files. I mean we do have it for computers, but just not mobile phones I guess.

rsot · #13 05-16-2016

Nice to hear Play - smooth sale and iPhone in the same sentence is nice to hear indeed.

GreenBean · #14 05-16-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Play

Sale went smooth, thanks for asking. I didn't go the extra mile to delete files as I didn't have any sensitive files on the phone. Disappointing to know such software doesn't exist to erase/overwrite files. I mean we do have it for computers, but just not mobile phones I guess.

Clue there is iphone.

Apple do not wish to give away too much of their power.

Play · #15 05-16-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenBean

Clue there is iphone.

Apple do not wish to give away too much of their power.

Whats worse is having spoken to a senior Apple member of staff, she informed me how they dish out refurbished phones as replacements, now if the storage is not atleast reaplaced with a new one during the refurbishment process, then that could compromise a lot of people's data who are not wary of the deleted file recovery process.

Maybe if someone started to do it to scare people, Apple may reconsider implementing such feature, though such deep cleaning is bad for flash memory modules. Which is probably why it fails to exist.

Personally, I use my phone for what most people use it for. But many people tend to have 'sensitive photos'

.... wouldn't be nice for them to get into the wrong hands... and all of a sudden see them appear online.. OUCH!

rsot · #16 05-16-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Play

Whats worse is having spoken to a senior Apple member of staff, she informed me how they dish out refurbished phones as replacements, now if the storage is not atleast reaplaced with a new one during the refurbishment process, then that could compromise a lot of people's data who are not wary of the deleted file recovery process.

Fairly certain Apple must flush out all old info before putting a refurbished one back on the market...