Researchers say Android's factory reset feature flawed

23 May, 2015
The functionality was tested on 21 smartphones running Google's mobile OS version 2.3.x to 4.3.

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  • o
  • obito
  • ka8
  • 15 Oct 2017

have a hauwei y520 stuck on hard reset mode, can anyone help me

    • 1
    • 1234
    • vxs
    • 12 Jun 2016

    how to reset a HTC desire 526???

      • r
      • rob
      • IAa
      • 12 Aug 2015

      AnonD-399435, 25 May 2015@PKC - I wish I could upvote your comment, because you hit ... morehey bro I have asus zen pad got virious wont load got the green android to come on screen at start up but unshure about the rest of factory reset thanks for any help bob

        • D
        • AnonD-399435
        • A2r
        • 25 May 2015

        @PKC - I wish I could upvote your comment, because you hit the nail on the head. People don't seem to realize. I am a technician and I recover SD cards, Android, iPhone, Hard drives - it's terribly simple to do and usually only takes a handful of minutes minutes. You don't even have to be knowledgeable about the subject, it's literally a one click recover.

          • A
          • Anonym
          • NCe
          • 25 May 2015

          AnonD-293750, 25 May 2015Data colection from the customers themselves. if google, ap... moreDo realize that data collection has nothing to do with this particular research. This is about retrieving data from the device after it was erased. That is, the user explicitly didn't want that data to be recovered, hence he erased it (and agreed to the destruction of said data). On the other hand, data collection (aka Big Data) is all about getting the most data out of that device while it's still in use, through legally binding agreements which most didn't even bother to read before consenting. BIG DIFFERENCE, one has consent (ignorance is no excuse) and happens while the device is in use. The other is expressly without consent and happens after the device is no longer in use. Couldn't be farther apart!

            • P
            • PKC
            • JF5
            • 25 May 2015

            Any hard disk data whether it is deleted or purged can be restored with the software. The old data will only be deleted unless that space is overlapped with the new data. This happens with all the devices whether laptop, desktop or Mobile phones with any OS.

              • D
              • AnonD-383187
              • kg3
              • 25 May 2015

              Android is forever a beta OS. Buggy crap OS.

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                • AnonD-293750
                • 9GH
                • 25 May 2015

                Anonym, 24 May 2015It's 50-50, which is still a major thing. But speaking of l... moreData colection from the customers themselves. if google, apple and windows completly locked down everything...they would miss out on the impulse buyers and potential customers. THATS WHY ADDS ARE STILL ON YOUR SMARTPHONES..


                ALSO without data collection you wouldnt have the crazy high end phones with 4gb ram that we have today.

                  • j
                  • jimbob
                  • AJv
                  • 24 May 2015

                  this is old news

                    AnonD-62471, 24 May 2015i did factory reset so many times but i never experienced a... moreAnything that is stored on a storage even if it is a small portion or about a KB of data will remain inside the device. FBI and other forensics have softwares that can even retrieve deleted files in the device even if it is deleted. But if the file itself has been overlapped. A bad sector could be made via overlapping of data. In this way. That sector which has a stored data will not be able to retrieve it.

                      luke, 24 May 2015I think we should stop comparing android with apple.Android... moreSo why does it has an antivirus? What about those mobile browsers that pops ads? Third, why the System UI. uses more memory resources when idle? Explain that!

                        Anything that store data an u wipe canned retrieve HDD micro sd card etc so nothing new there a 3 storage type primary secondary an tertiary my theory is wen u delete that is wat I called tertiary cuz it still remain

                          • l
                          • luke
                          • vG6
                          • 24 May 2015

                          I think we should stop comparing android with apple.Android is way ahead of apple in terms of security because it is based on linux and the research shows this flaw only upto 4.3.which more than two years old.Secondly it is better than ios because you can buy an android phone for $50 as well as $1000 depending on your pocket ...a liberty not offered by apple because it is very exclusive



                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • uvu
                            • 24 May 2015

                            faha, 24 May 2015Actually after every some time we know a new hidden apple b... moreApple allows deep extraction of data even though users deny access, apps can still extract the data. Don't even have to get their hands on the device like in the case of android.

                              • f
                              • faha
                              • 6Qp
                              • 24 May 2015

                              Actually after every some time we know a new hidden apple benefit... SO that's why people love apple.

                                • S
                                • Sanjay Raval
                                • H4w
                                • 24 May 2015

                                There is a big question about our personal data security, Android researcher must take seriously this and have to provide solution as early as fast before people switch over to Apple.

                                  • S
                                  • Stadtionalist
                                  • iGh
                                  • 24 May 2015

                                  I would have hoped that Cambridge University would set higher standards to research papers. This one looks more like a preliminiairy conclusion based on logcats, indicating a problem with eMMC than anything else.

                                    • D
                                    • AnonD-62471
                                    • U{7
                                    • 24 May 2015

                                    researchers knows that latest android version gives maximum security that's why thry choosed old version.. :) I'm using gingerbread but never faced anything like this

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-62471
                                      • U{7
                                      • 24 May 2015

                                      i did factory reset so many times but i never experienced anything like this. maybe those researchers don't know how to format an android device:) :p

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-315435
                                        • uwr
                                        • 24 May 2015

                                        So we can give name as leak( because there is no security for our information even after factory reset).
                                        Hence I say Android OS not only laggy its leaky.