However, until the OS writes new data over the sectors containing the contents of the file, the files are still recoverable. When you delete a file, the OS removes the pointer to that file (akin to erasing page numbers from the table of content of a textbook) and marks the sectors containing the file’s data as available.įrom the file system’s point of view, the file is no longer present on your storage device, and the sectors containing its data are considered free space. It’s a lot like the index page in textbooks. Each file on your device memory or storage has a pointer that tells the OS where the file’s data begins and ends. The operating system (Android, Windows, etc) uses a concept called indexing to keep track of where files are stored in a device. Permanent data erasure goes beyond basic file deletion commands, which only remove direct pointers to the data disk sectors, and make data recovery possible with common software tools. According to a recent study by the University of Hertfordshire in conjunction with Comparitech, it was found that it’s still possible to recover photos, emails, text and other documents from a reset Android device.Ĭontrary to popular belief, when you delete a file from your phone memory, SD card, or computer hard disk for that matter, the file isn’t actually removed. But the problem is, a factory reset doesn’t really delete everything.

So, how do you properly wipe your data off your old Android device without running the risk of leaving remnant data? Is it enough to just delete the files or do a factory reset? Basic file deletion and factory reset are not enoughĪ lot of people perform a factory reset to wipe everything off their Android device, before disposing or reselling it. Leaving personal details on your old device may expose you to security and privacy risks. You don’t want to accidentally pass on your personal information to someone else. Whatever decision you take, it’s important that all your personal data is wiped clean before disposing of it. You may want to give it away, trade it in with your carrier, put it up for sale, or recycle it. But what do you do with your old device? There are a number of options available. So a new Android phone or tablet has just caught your attention, and you are looking to upgrade to the latest one as quickly as possible.

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