Want a New Smartphone for the Holidays? Don’t Gift Private Information Stored on Your Old Device

Mobile devices, such as tablets, smartphones and smart watches, continuously evolve and offer exciting new features. As the holiday season is in full swing, the newest technology is sure to be on many wish lists. But what should one do with old devices when replaced by the newest model?

Your mobile device contains more sensitive data than you may realize: where you live and work, daily travel habits, text and chat sessions, financial information, passwords and more. There are a few key steps you should take to ensure that your sensitive data is erased before trading in, reselling or even recycling your old device.

• Backup your old device so that you can transfer/recover your data on your new device.
• Once backed up, reset your device – this wipes all data and settings.
• If your device has a SIM card, either transfer it to your new device, or physically destroy it.
• If you are unsure about the above steps, consult the store/business from which you bought the device to get help.

See the newsletter for more details.

This tip courtesy of the ACBA Legal Technology and e-Discovery Committee, and the Dec.7, 2022 SANS Institute “OUCH!” newsletter.