Monday, December 11, 2017

Cell Phone Forensics On Wiping Out Data

By Gary Cook


Everyone has a secret in the phone that you would not like exposed. It could be a photo, message, file, link, or anything that would compromise your position. When you want to give away the handset or sell it, such information needs to be cleared to prevent it from falling into unsafe hands. Cell phone forensics experts have recommended ways you can protect information from compromise.

Reset your handset to factory setting. Most people would go for this option before trying others. This will clear any information that was entered since you began using a handset as brand new. There are phones that give the option of locking some functions like retrieval. Unfortunately, the new owner will not use the handset effectively. This functionality depends on phone model and limits the extent to which you can safeguard your information.

Most phones have the option of resetting to factory setting. This approach conceals information such that it is impossible to access through ordinary functions. You will require advanced technology to retrieve such information. This means that your information will only be protected against ordinary users and not hackers intent on retrieving it.

Modern technology has enabled data encryption to protect your information. Certain phones offer this option as a default setting while you have to activate the function on other phones. Encrypted messages demand a retrieval code to access the information. Without this code or a secret PIN, your information will be safe. You have to ensure that you do not share this key or code with third parties.

Some mobile phones have in-built encryption capabilities. Others require you to download certain applications. In fact, certain apps guarantee encryption of data that is transferred through them. In the era of hacking, encryption is only temporary reprieve because even highly secure apps have been hacked in the past.

Overwrite the existing data. This is an option that you use when saving files or data. It amounts to utilizing space that may be considered already used and in the process damage the existing files. Just like resetting to factory option, overwriting conceals the information in such a way that it can only be retrieved with advanced technology. This option will therefore hide information from ordinary persons and not tech wiz intent on retrieving it.

External memory devices like SIM cards and SD cards should be removed. They are storage devices which hold files and information that you may consider confidential. Once you remove them from the phone, all the information that was stored in them disappears and cannot be accessed by the phones again. It can only be accessed once the cards are returned. This option will only work if you had chosen external storage for your data.

Technology advancement regarding information retrieval has complicated concealing. Even leaving a handset clean does not guarantee permanent hiding. The only guarantee most of these methods offer is inability to access by ordinary users. Phones provide directions on deleting information. Follow these directions to be on the safe side. However, the ultimate option when considering information security is to avoid having it on your handset if it posses any danger.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment