Is a factory reset enough to protect your data if you're getting rid of your device?

CapeTalk's John Maytham interviews Toby Shapshak, Editor-in-Chief at Stuff Studios.

Listen below: 

If you're planning to dispose of or resell your devices, you may be concerned about the security of your personal data.

While many people assume that a factory reset or simply deleting files is enough to protect their information, studies show that up to 90% of second-hand electronics still contain recoverable data.

The study found that 42% of used storage devices sold on eBay still contained sensitive data, even though sellers had attempted to erase it using standard methods.

Shapshak acknowledges these concerns but says that, in most cases, performing a proper factory reset should be sufficient to safeguard your data.

As long as you’re doing a thorough reset, you should be okay, he says - but if you’re especially cautious, he suggests doing it more than once.

"There's a lot of fearmongering around this."

- Toby Shapshak, Editor-in-Chief – Stuff Studios

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