Recycling cellphones?

Homeslice · 01-02-2010, 03:25 PM

Besides removing your sim card, what else should you do to delete any personal data?

BobTheBiker · 01-02-2010, 03:38 PM

pretty much do as much as you possibly can to delete data. I dont recycle phones for this exact reason. too much personal info, Ill destroy a phone first for privacy. its kinda like recycling underwear to me.

Rangerscott · 01-02-2010, 03:42 PM

most phones have a "factory reset" and it'll delete everything.

Tmall · 01-02-2010, 03:44 PM

Do you get money for it? If not, a hammer works well.

CrazyKell · 01-02-2010, 06:12 PM

Fry it in water. Can they still recycle it after that?

I think it'd clear the data at least.

I recycled my old phones (I had 5 of them) and recycled them at a hockey game. You got one ballot for every phone you recycled. From those ballots I won a 32 inch Samsung flat screen TV and a year's worth of premium cable.

OneSickPsycho · 01-02-2010, 06:19 PM

Just go through and delete the numbers. I dunno about you guys, but my phone has names, phone numbers, emails, and the occassional birthday. The most personal thing on there is pics of ONSSP, but those are on the SD card. If someone did 'crack' my phone, they can call my mom or whatever... she'd be glad someone called her from my number. I throw away more personal information every week than anyone could get from my cell phone.

CrazyKell · 01-02-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

Just go through and delete the numbers. I dunno about you guys, but my phone has names, phone numbers, emails, and the occassional birthday. The most personal thing on there is pics of ONSSP, but those are on the SD card. If someone did 'crack' my phone, they can call my mom or whatever... she'd be glad someone called her from my number. I throw away more personal information every week than anyone could get from my cell phone.

That's what I was thinking too. But then again, now that I have a blackberry there's a lot more info on it.

OneSickPsycho · 01-02-2010, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyKell

That's what I was thinking too. But then again, now that I have a blackberry there's a lot more info on it.

Oh yeah, mine has Facebook contacts too.

derf · 01-02-2010, 08:55 PM

The factory reset doesn't work 100%. There are ways of getting the old data off the phone even after it has been erased. the only sure fire method that is 100% is to break it then just toss it away with the rest of your garbage

Rangerscott · 01-02-2010, 09:22 PM

I still have every phone (expect first one) with me. They all still work, even the whole I put in the washer machine on full cycle.

01-02-2010, 03:25 PM	#1
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	Recycling cellphones? Besides removing your sim card, what else should you do to delete any personal data?

01-02-2010, 08:55 PM	#9
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	The factory reset doesn't work 100%. There are ways of getting the old data off the phone even after it has been erased. the only sure fire method that is 100% is to break it then just toss it away with the rest of your garbage __________________

01-02-2010, 03:38 PM	#2
BobTheBiker too much time on my hands Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the northern district of god damn Moto: 01 ZX6R, looking for more now. Posts: 1,802	pretty much do as much as you possibly can to delete data. I dont recycle phones for this exact reason. too much personal info, Ill destroy a phone first for privacy. its kinda like recycling underwear to me.

01-02-2010, 03:42 PM	#3
Rangerscott Viff6N Mutated Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Moto: '01 Honda VFR 800 & '09 ER-6N Posts: 8,704	most phones have a "factory reset" and it'll delete everything.

01-02-2010, 03:44 PM	#4
Tmall Aspiring Rapper Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Halifax, NS Moto: '12 CB1000R Posts: 3,569	Do you get money for it? If not, a hammer works well.

01-02-2010, 06:12 PM	#5
CrazyKell Vrooom Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: 06 ZX6R Posts: 4,427	Fry it in water. Can they still recycle it after that? I think it'd clear the data at least. I recycled my old phones (I had 5 of them) and recycled them at a hockey game. You got one ballot for every phone you recycled. From those ballots I won a 32 inch Samsung flat screen TV and a year's worth of premium cable.

01-02-2010, 06:19 PM	#6
OneSickPsycho Ride Like an Asshole Join Date: Feb 2008 Moto: nothing... Posts: 11,254	Just go through and delete the numbers. I dunno about you guys, but my phone has names, phone numbers, emails, and the occassional birthday. The most personal thing on there is pics of ONSSP, but those are on the SD card. If someone did 'crack' my phone, they can call my mom or whatever... she'd be glad someone called her from my number. I throw away more personal information every week than anyone could get from my cell phone.

01-02-2010, 09:22 PM	#10
Rangerscott Viff6N Mutated Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Moto: '01 Honda VFR 800 & '09 ER-6N Posts: 8,704	I still have every phone (expect first one) with me. They all still work, even the whole I put in the washer machine on full cycle.