Help Recover data after wipe?

[androy]

Im going to send my Inc in for a return.. Just curious if its possible to recover any data after I wipe the phone? Does the phone do a secure wipe or is the data still there just waiting to be overwritten?

 

[GrandMasterB]

You mean as far as somebody else being able to recover your data after you return it?

 

[androy]

You mean as far as somebody else being able to recover your data after you return it?

Yes

 

[GrandMasterB]

Yes

I have always just assumed they recondition these upon receipt. Guess I never put much thought into it. I assumed if you did a factory reset that is was a secure wipe....

On another note, why are you sending it back? For exchange or flat out return and cancel?

 

[INTREPID-NY]

Recovering deleted info from flash memory is definitely possible, just like with hard drives. There are recovery programs designed for flash recovery. I don't know where the info is stored (contacts for example) on the Incredible and if that area is even accessible without a rooted phone. But, if that area is accessible, you could plug the phone into your computer and use a data wiping program. Those more familiar with the android operating system and rooting should know.

 

[XxICEMAN720xX]

Unless you use aftermarket software to scramble the data, someone could theoretically get user data after a wipe. The easiest way I have found to hide my data permanently is to- 1. wipe data 2. load useless data until storage device is full 3. wipe data -repeat until you are less paranoid. I have found usually 3 cycles of this is 100% overlap of all existing data;

the theory is that anyone can retrieve wiped data which has been recently "wiped" because it is essentially just placed into the "to-be-overwritten" partition, which will remain in tact and retrievable until it has been overwritten by something, something big usually is most effective.


e.g.
When I broke up with my X I asked for my pc back and my x-girlfriend wiped/formatted my pc's hard drive after we broke up- because it was a recent format, I was able to retrieve EVERYTHING that had been formatted. Everything. (except the files which were overwritten due to reinstalling a fresh windows os- which was only about 1GB).

Oh yes and I forgot to ADD that Cell Phone Carriers are supposed to "factory reset"/"wipe" all returned phones upon receiving from users- that's policy. So in reality, unless you are a criminal or a secret agent hiding your data from cell phone carrier is ridiculous, they aren't going to investigate your phone data, now, if you are a criminal or secret agent and the FBI gets your phone, then you might be in trouble- but I believe even my method can thwart the FBI.

 

[bjanow]

...if you are a criminal or secret agent and the FBI gets your phone, then ....

If you are a secret agent you'd throw the ****er away or burn it beyond all recognition and not send it back to Verizon. Back to the OP, they probably don't give a rat's ass about your data. Just wipe it and stop worrying.

 

[XxICEMAN720xX]

If you are a secret agent you'd throw the ****er away or burn it beyond all recognition and not send it back to Verizon. Back to the OP, they probably don't give a rat's ass about your data. Just wipe it and stop worrying.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[ORDarksideD]

The real question is.. what do you have on your phone that you are so worried about being found?

 

[androy]

Lol.... It's more curiosity than anything else.