The demand for the latest tech gives smartphone manufacturers a great opportunity to frequently present new models to the market. People want a sophisticated design and highly advanced technical specifications, and once they have that, they want the next upgraded version!
The evolution of these devices has been impressive. The first "non-smart" mobile phone was a heavy, awkward device able to perform just the function of the phone. Today, smartphones are powerful pocket computers, always connected to the internet; much smaller, lighter and more easily transported than laptops.
Digital storage that constantly grows and needs to be protected
According to Statista, 2019 saw 1.52 billion smartphones sold worldwide – a significant increase from the 680 million units sold in 2012. The tablet market continues to increase worldwide, but a report published by Analysys Mason states that sales have slowed down considerably; with sales expected to fall to 129 million in 2022 from their peak of 200 million in 2014.
Smartphones are the most popular device used for accessing the internet, with Statista reporting close to half of those accessing the internet in 2020 using a smartphone rather than a large format display.
But, as users, do we realise and/or understand how much personal information we store on our smartphones? And do we know how important it is to handle this data very careful, especially when we decide to replace our device with a more beautiful and powerful one?
Recycling and disposal: the market for reconditioned devices
When we choose to buy the latest smartphone, we often make the decision to give away or sell our old device, since it is still fully functional.
Nowadays, there are lots of people interested in getting second-hand smartphones and tablets. There are some shops that buy them or offer trade-in deals upon the launch of a new device. Most of these used devices, still in excellent condition, will be technically tested to ensure they are in top shape and then they will be resold as used: the idea is good, as it allows protecting the environment and reducing the number of electronic waste.
The market of the reconditioned mobile device is fast-growing. A survey conducted by CCS, revealed a growing momentum for refurbished devices, with 60% of UK respondents claiming they would consider buying a refurbished mobile next time they change or upgrade.
What data do we need to protect?
No one would be happy to know that the buyer of their old device has unlimited access to the data on their smartphone. Unfortunately, this is a reality for some people who sell their old device without securely erasing the data that resides on it. Not only could someone gain access to your photos, contacts, emails, and files, but there is also a chance of losing control of our accounts and passwords that could lead to fraud.
The same applies to businesses. If a company fails to securely erase the data on a mobile device assigned to an employee, which is then recycled or reused, there is a chance of sensitive data getting into the wrong hands.
The only way to protect ourselves and others is, therefore, to permanently eliminate all traces of digital data. But what's the most effective method? In the second part of this article, we discuss the erasure methods available, and which is most effective.
What is the best data erasure method for my media type?
For business we provide auditable data erasure solutions:
Data Deletion, Destruction and Erasure Solutions
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