How to prepare your smartphone for disposal?

Before disposing of an old smartphone, the user should take care to prepare it for this procedure. In particular, one should thoroughly clear the device's memory so that the data cannot be recovered. Vasily Shutov, a lecturer at the "Information Security" department of RTU MIREA, provided more details about smartphone disposal rules in an interview with RT.

Shutov noted that the first and most important step is the complete removal of all data from the device. Simply deleting files is not enough, as they can be easily recovered. It is recommended to use special programs that overwrite the information on the disk with several layers of random data, making its recovery impossible. For computers, utilities such as DBAN or CCleaner can be used, and for mobile devices, built-in functions for a full reset and encryption are advised.

Additionally, Shutov pointed out that hardware destruction of data is also a reliable method of protection. For hard drives and other data carriers, physical destruction such as breaking or using specialized shredders for electronics can be employed. This ensures that the data cannot be recovered by any modern technologies.

Finally, after deleting all data, the device must be disposed of in accordance with environmental regulations. Many companies and organizations offer programs for collecting and recycling old electronics, ensuring environmentally safe disposal. These programs prevent harmful substances contained in electronic devices from entering the environment.