I spy!

Shivli Tyagi / TNN / Sep 7, 2006, 19:11 IST

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A recent report says even if a cell phone user erases all confidential information before selling his old handset, the next buyer can retrieve the data with the help of a new software.

The 'delete' button isn't helping! A recent report says even if a cell phone user erases all confidential information before selling his old handset, the next buyer can retrieve the data with the help of a new software.
Does the 'erase' button on the cell phone erase all your worries? Not quite, says a report, adding that deleting private and confidential information from a cellphone being sold off, might not be so easy.
For with the help of a simple and inexpensive software — confidential information can apparently be retrieved by the next user.
Arun Patel, director of a private firm says: "Instant communication has become the order of the day. One can't help passing critical information including confidential matter through these instruments. A threat like this is serious."

Adds Nirav Parekh, an industrialist who depends on his personal PDA for correspondence, "These multi-featured instruments have become an integral part of life. I used to make sure I deleted all information from my phone. But now I will have to be even more careful."
That the deleted memory can be retrieved is news to some dealers as well.
According to a popular dealer of cellphones, "A majority of the high-end consumers upgrade their cellphones once in two years. I don't think they know about this. On our part we delete all information stored and reset the phone to sell it to a second-hand user."...

...
Communication experts confirm that phones which store information on 'flash' memory chips are most susceptible.
Rakesh Joshi, a mobile phone distributor, says, "Just like on a computer, any information you delete goes into a recycle bin of these high-end phones. If you have the software, it can be retrieved."
Agrees Neel Shah, a telecom engineer: "These phones are like laptops or notebooks. Apart from the sim card memory, most of the data is stored in the memory of the phone. Once you delete the unwanted data, the flash memory of the phone stores it in the recycle bin. Therefore it is possible to retrieve it till it is not overwritten."
However, Anup Joshi who deals in high-end phones, says there's no reason to get tense. Some phones apparently have inbuilt features where one can wipe out all information and set it to the 'default factory setting'.
"And even if the phone is lost, the service provider can lock the phone from the network," he adds. But till one knows how to rid their old phones of confidential information, this new threat may cause a few flutters.
shivli.tyagi@timesgroup.com

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