Friday, 22 January 2016 00:00

What You Need To Know About Android’s ‘Factory Reset’ Function

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Upgrading your Android device?

Are you still sporting an HTC Dream (Google G1) or a tablet running Android Honeycomb? Probably not, as technological obsolescence means that as mobile devices have evolved, so has our desire to upgrade to newer models with improved performance and functionality.

So if you do decide to upgrade, what should you do with your old mobile phone or tablet to ensure no-one else will be able to access your personal information? Up until now, users may have chosen to perform a factory reset, with the perception that this will securely erase all data on the device. This is actually not the case; it was recently reported that data may still be recoverable from around 500 million Android smartphones, even after performing a factory reset. It was also found that a recovery is possible even if the device is encrypted, which is concerning for home and business users alike.

Why is the data still recoverable?

In a previous blog post we described how data such as pictures, videos and app information gets stored on Android devices, mostly via the use of internal NAND flash memory. We asked Michal Cieslik, a Mobile Device Recovery Specialist at DataRecoup to explain why data can still be recovered from these types of storage devices when a factory reset has been completed:

“Performing a factory reset on an Android device simply removes the path to the data, making the device appear empty; however the data is actually still there. A recovery is possible by looking at the data structures from a low-level and using specialist tools to recreate the data into a useable format. Also, factory resetting a mobile device only affects the internal memory – any added external storage in the form of micro-SD memory cards would not be touched and the data could be recovered with widely available software recovery tools.”

What does this mean for Android device users?

When the factory reset function is selected on an Android device, whilst a message may warn you that you are about to erase all of your data, the reality is that it does not. For home users, it is important to consider this when trading in your old mobile device or selling it online, as your personal photos, videos and account information could still be recoverable by someone else if the device has not been wiped correctly.

For organisations of all sizes, this poses a serious risk from a compliance and data protection perspective. Company-issued mobile devices are likely to contain confidential data; if this information was recovered and leaked externally it could lead to significant financial penalties, especially under the proposed GDPR legislation. There is also the likelihood of reputational damage, which could be detrimental to client’s trust.

What precautions should Android users take?

Android users should take care in how they dispose of their mobile devices once they no longer have a use for them, even if the device has full-disk encryption enabled. Previous processes and best-practice information should be reviewed accordingly to ensure that data does not end up in the wrong hands.

Reference: http://blog.krollontrack.co.uk/top-tips/what-you-need-to-know-about-androids-factory-reset-function/

Data Recovery Expert

Viktor S., Ph.D. (Electrical/Computer Engineering), was hired by DataRecoup, the international data recovery corporation, in 2012. Promoted to Engineering Senior Manager in 2010 and then to his current position, as C.I.O. of DataRecoup, in 2014. Responsible for the management of critical, high-priority RAID data recovery cases and the application of his expert, comprehensive knowledge in database data retrieval. He is also responsible for planning and implementing SEO/SEM and other internet-based marketing strategies. Currently, Viktor S., Ph.D., is focusing on the further development and expansion of DataRecoup’s major internet marketing campaign for their already successful proprietary software application “Data Recovery for Windows” (an application which he developed).

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