Privacy Protection: Why Your Old Cell Phone Can be Your Worst Enemy

The Inver Grove Heights Police Department provides online advice on ways to avoid several types of fraud.  It is an outstanding source of timely, useful information... but it needs one update: how to properly dispose of cell phones to avoid fraud.

In the early days of cell phones and other wireless devices, we had very little personal information on them, and could delete the few contacts and recent call list, remove the battery, and take it to a recycling center. As phones have gained more apps and more functionality, we’ve stored more and more of our personal data onto them. Photos, contacts, email, bank accounts, social networking, voicemails, maybe even medical data, along with other private information are now on our phones. If not disposed of properly, our old cell phones can be great resources for ID thieves.

While it is always a good idea to lock your phone’s keypad, or require a password or PIN to access any data, that alone is not enough when disposing of a phone. Personal data and sensitive information should be completely removed. In addition to removing the phone’s memory and SIM card, go through and delete contacts, messages, photos, and all other data. Many phones offer a restore or reset feature in their settings.

Some smartphones, like Apple’s iPhone, do not have memory that is easy for consumers to remove. To restore an iPhone, go “Settings,” then “General” and then “Reset.” From there, you can delete files and settings on the device. You can also plug your iPhone into your computer and use iTunes to restore it.

Your owner’s manual, your wireless provider’s website, or the manufacturer will likely provide information on how to permanently delete information from your mobile device.

Once you have a “clean” phone, you can recycle it, donate it, resell or trade it in toward the purchase of a new phone, or dispose it. Many cell phone manufacturers, service providers, and non-profit groups often have programs to recycle phones and their components. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has information on electronic product recycling programs at www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/ecycling/donate.htm.

Many organizations collect old mobile devices for charitable purposes. You can also resell your phone to someone else or trade it in. Many cell phone service providers will allow you to trade in an old phone, with the value going toward the purchase of a new device. The provider will either re-sell the phone or recycle it.

Regardless of how you choose to dispose of your old phone, make sure that you remove all personal data from it first. As we store more and more of our lives on our mobile devices, proper disposal becomes even more important. Further information can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt044.shtm.

As always, I welcome comments on this issue, either by posting below, emailing me at Rep.Joe.Atkins@house.mn, taking my survey at www.facebook.com/State.Rep.Joe.Atkins, or by giving me a call at the Capitol at 296-4192.