Need help making 200% sure that all of the data is wiped off of m

**JamesKBoyd** · 02-09-2012, 05:34 PM

I work for the Federal Government in a pretty secretive division. I upgraded from an HTC Evo 4G to a Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and decided that I would sell my Evo on EBay. However, there is some EXTREMELY sensitive data on there that I need to make sure that there is no trace of before I send the phone out.

**Jude526** · 02-09-2012, 05:47 PM

A factory reset will wipe out everything

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**poidogger#ac** · 02-09-2012, 06:42 PM

To be 200% sure, have your IT guys check it.

**ZombieCrisis** · 02-09-2012, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by poidogger

To be 200% sure, have your IT guys check it.

Won't you be breaking protocol by not having IT check it?

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**Illusions** · 02-10-2012, 02:05 PM

Factory reset will do a simple delete/format of the phone which is good for the general public.

For sensitive positions/data -- you need to perform a secure delete (3x or more) and advanced overwrite (writes 0's & 1's to make sure prior data is not retrievable) to be completely safe.

Your I/T department will probably format/overwrite phone and external card, then reinstall the basic phone software which will leave nothing to find.

**top magoo** · 02-11-2012, 05:09 PM

if it was THAT sensitive of material, why is it on a personal phone?

**dtreo** · 02-12-2012, 07:47 AM

Smart that you use your full name on blog posts in such a supposed secret line of work.

**Mikey47** · 02-12-2012, 04:45 PM

sorry, not buying it. Whatever agency you work for would fire you in a heartbeat for having any sensitive data on your phone.

I once did some contracting work for the FBI and they disallowed personal cells in the building (for both employees and contractors) , much less the ability to load anything onto them.

**tayl428** · 02-12-2012, 04:54 PM

Isn't is the first rule of working on secret projects for the Government supposed to be like the first (and second) rule of Fight Club?

**dtreo** · 02-12-2012, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by tayl428

Isn't is the first rule of working on secret projects for the Government supposed to be like the first (and second) rule of Fight Club?

I think you're right, but there might be an overriding third rule that negates the first two as long as you perform the secret work from your mom's basement...or something. I don't know specific details.