Monday, December 11, 2017

Cell Phone Forensics On Cleaning Data

By Gary Cook


Everyone has information on the phone that he or she would prefer it remains a secret. Such information ranges from photos to messages, emails, links or data that is confidential. When you come to the end of using such a handset and want to give it away or sell it, erasing is the best option. Cell phone forensics specialists have provided tips on safeguarding the data from compromise. Here are some of them.

Use the factory reset option. This is the first resort for most people and devices. It is meant to clear all information and settings that have been altered since the handset began to be used. Some phones work by locking handsets from setting alteration. This might not work if you are selling or giving it since it will be useless to the receiver. However, it still provides a reasonable deal of information protection.

Resetting factory settings does not wipe out data. It only locks it in a place that is irretrievable through your handset. With advancement in technology, such information may be retrieved with ease. If someone employs off-the-shelf techniques and technology, your secret information will be retrieved leading to compromise. You therefore need more advanced ways of concealing the information and erasing it completely from the system.

Data encryption is part of modern technology and a way of protecting information. There are phones with this as a default option. For other models, the option has to be activated. Encryption requires you to provide a code or retrieval key in order to access the files. To maintain the secrecy or security of such information, you must not share the code with third parties.

While encryption is default for certain handset models, there are apps with encryption options inbuilt. All information transferred through these apps is usually protected. However, hacking has made it uncertain to claim safety through encryption. With widespread hacking even of highly protected platforms, encryption provides protection only to a certain extent.

Data can be protected by overwriting it. Devices will provide that option when you are saving information or files. It works by erasing the existing ones and writing others over them. Like resetting, overwriting only provides temporary reprieve where advanced technology can lead to access. A hacker is still capable of accessing this information.

Remove any external memory devices attached on the handset. These devices include SD cards and memory cards. They add to the memory of your device and will therefore carry information you might consider confidential. By removing them from your handset, all information that they carried cannot be accessed until the cards are put in other devices. The external memory devices will only work if you had chosen them as your storage option.

Data recovery technology has made it almost impossible to permanently delete information from phones. However, since recovery relies on advanced technology, it is still possible to conceal files and data from unauthorized persons. Follow the directions of your handset to guarantee security. If you would not want any information to fall into the public eye, do not generate it in the first place.




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