It is a shame to just let these devices gather dust, especially since in many cases your old device still has value. Moreover, it is important to handle these devices responsibly and safely and have them properly destroyed so that confidential information does not fall into the wrong hands. At IT recycling, you can turn in your old phone and have it destroyed, so you can be sure that this is done the right way.
Cell phones and security
Smartphones contain a lot of confidential and personal data. Think contact information, photos and emails, as well as links to cloud accounts such as Outlook and Gmail. If this falls into the wrong hands of cybercriminals, for example, it can cause major problems. But then, doesn’t the access code provide security? Almost all smartphone users have a lock on their phone, in the form of a code, fingerprint or facial recognition that makes people think they are keeping the data safe.
Especially the latest models have state of the art security. For example, the new iPhone is so well secured that the U.S. FBI filed a lawsuit against Apple to force them to crack an iPhone. But Apple declared itself unable to get into the iPhone either! Yet you can still connect old phones to a computer with a cable – and then suddenly a lot of files and confidential data can be accessed. So smartphone security is definitely not foolproof.
Turn in cell phone and destroy your old phones
Do you really want to properly handle an old cell phone and safely return your cell phone? Then get your data destroyed. There are several ways to do this:
- A factory reset: the phone then reports that all data will be erased and returned to factory settings. Also, don’t forget to disconnect any cloud accounts. This is not quite 100% foolproof: a factory reset is reversible. Full overwrite can only be done with special certified software. The very best tool is Blancco mobile device eraser. But Blancco is not cheap and very difficult for the “hobbyist” to use. At IT Recycling, we use Blancco certified software so we can help you with this.
- Turning in your old phone to a company that promises to erase your smartphone’s confidential data. There are many websites that promise this – but the risks are enormous. You don’t know how a website like this one handles confidential data before they destroy your phone. With these websites, you also get the most out of turning in your old cell phones and know quickly what your old phone is worth.
- The safest option: cell phone shredding. This can be done on site, or pick up and destroy the phone somewhere else. This is often quite a job: the screen and battery must first be removed from the cell phones. These are not allowed in the shredder by law. This is because the lithium battery can also cause a fire. At IT Recycling, we can shred old phones into pieces as small as 9mm.
Want to know more about destroying data from your old cell phone? Then get in touch with us. Our experts will be happy to tell you more!
Turning in your old or broken cell phones is not only good for the environment, but it can also earn you some money if your old phone is worth money. When you turn in an old phone, you contribute to reuse and recycling, which saves valuable resources. In fact, many usable smartphones are still perfectly suitable for a second life. In addition, an old phone is often still worth money, especially if it works well. Recycling your old phones? Choose smartly where you hand in your old phone and choose a company where they choose environmentally friendly processing, this way you reduce the amount of electronic waste and support a circular economy. You can also turn in your old phone to various charities that can put a used phone to good use, such as CliniClowns, for example.
Curious about data and phone destruction in practice? Watch the video below.