Forensic data retrieval software that is generally used by police is now accessible even to the general public. File recovery tools, such as Oxygen Forensic, AccessData and Recuva makes it possible for anyone to retrieve data from mobile phones and mobile devices. Even if you delete the data and reset your phone to factory settings, data recovery tools can easily recover the deleted data from your phone. It is not possible to remove personal data completely by using the in-built factory reset of your device.
According to experts, almost 99% of used handsets that are sold to mobile recycling companies are not recycled but reused, thus enabling hackers to retrieve all secret data using forensic data recovery tools. Here is a list of 5 alarming things that forensic data recovery software can recover from your phone.
- Images and Videos: Once you delete an image and video from your phone, the data itself is not deleted; thus, it can be easily recovered. Factory reset help in destroying paths to the deleted data but it still remains in your phone’s solid state memory, thus enabling software forensic data recovery tools to retrieve the deleted data.
- Emails and SMS: The emails and messages sent and received via email, SMS, MMS, WeChat, WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, Line and other apps can also be recovered with ease. However, forensic retrieval of data is an arduous process and the level of information that hackers can retrieve from your phone depends on their intensity of patience.
- Your Bank Details: The code provided by your bank that is required to access customer details can also be retrieved via file recovery software. Besides this, passwords or cryptograms used by you on your phone can also be recovered.
- Browsing History: Many people use their phones for browsing the internet. To facilitate this feature, smart phone technology has been made more sophisticated.
- Location Sensors: A potential hacker can also hack your phone’s position sensor history. Hackers can also find out your home address and hangout areas by hacking location sensors.
How to wipe data permanently from your phone?
The only way to eliminate this problem is to use a military standard data wiper that erases not only the data paths but also the actual data. Cost of a military standard wipe service varies significantly. The price of such a software ranges from 5 % to 15 % of the recycle value of your device. If you use the services of an external company to wipe your phone’s data, always ensure that they provide you with a destruction certificate and a tracking number. Destruction certificate ensures that the company takes full responsibility for the destruction of data and if your phone still gets hacked after using their service, the company can be held legally responsible.
Retrieval of data from mobile phone is a serious threat and sounds quite scary; however, the good news is that this menace would soon be eradicated as mobile device developers across the world are finding out effective ways to do away with this threat. Nevertheless, the invention of software to prevent data retrieval from mobile devices will induce hackers to come up with a more advanced version of software. Therefore, it is important for mobile phone users to be vigilant and start using electrical recyclers to protect their data.
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