What happens to returned IT gear

enfield_freddy

might be easier for you to just change your name and get new passwords


Rip, 50Tuncle

enfield_freddy

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Ask PC World how they secure un-removeable data on returned items.

they charge a fee , then lie

Quiet_Spark

50Twuncle wrote: »

Right - Would you not worry about your personal data if you sell a phone or PC ?

No, but then again I don't have any information stored that can be used for any nefarious purposes.
In the case of selling a phone I do a hard reset before passing it on, and when I sell a PC all I do is format the drive and reinstall the OS.


As far as browsing data goes, I couldn't care less if someone knows what websites I have been visiting. If they desperately want that sort of info then they could easily obtain it from my ISP anyway.

googler

What data do you have stored on this device that you're worried about falling into the wrong hands?

enfield_freddy

two choices , if the OP is that worried
1: decline refund and destroy himself , then buy a new one
2: do a full FACTORY restore WIPING DATA CARD , and stop worrying

Glyndwr2000

Not to worry you, but I bought a second hand ipad from a reputable internet shop. When it arrived it hadnt been wiped and had a young french ladys data still on it, including some,err artistic photos. I emailed her (yes her email was also unlocked, although I didnt pry, to tell her what had happened and that I would delete all of her data without looking unless there was something she wanted from it.

I never received a reply, perhaps she was embarrassed by the content of the photos. (before anyone asks, I deleted everything!)

kwikbreaks

I suspect that it will just be put into a job lot of customer returns many of which are pretty simple to fix for those with enough technical ability. After that the end buyer will probably just sell them on eBay - those that couldn't be fixed marked up as spares or repair.

Android has offered the option of encryption from 2.3.4 onwards (I knew it had been a long time but was surprised it was so long when I looked the release up just now). Naturally few bothered with it but from 5.0 onwards it is on by default.

I think I'd be inclined to change my google password if it was an Android tablet but I wouldn't let this keep me awake at night. It really depends on whether you routinely buy stuff or do financial transactions on it. I'm old fashioned enough to prefer a laptop for that sort of thing as my sausage fingers make slightly less mistakes on bigger keyboards.

shopbot

50Twuncle wrote: »

To that end - I have requested that, after assessment - I am given the device back and this will allow me to restrict further access with a hammer - the bits will then be returned to PC world.....
Unless someone has an alternative suggestion ?

At the point you are given a refund the tablet becomes the property of PC world. They are not going to then allow you to smash up a piece of their property with a hammer.

Do a risk assessment. What is the cost of the absolute worst scenario you can think of? Is the loss to you more than the value of the refund of the tablet? If it is..then don't refund take the loss and destroy the tablet.

It is however extremely unlikely that someone would go to the extreme lengths you mention to gather your data. However if that is a realistic possibility then exactly the same could happen if you were burgled or left the tablet on a train.

SB

prowla

Well, as far as worst case goes, I think Gary Glitter was caught because he took a computer in to PC World which had dodgy photos on it, and they 9a) looked at them and (b) forwarded them to the authorities.

Tablets do have persistent storage (16/32/64 GB typically), so if it's not wiped beforehand it will contain whatever data there is (maybe accounts, passwords, documents, pictures, caches, etc.).

As noted, returning an item makes it the property of the shop, and they can do with it what they like.

Mr_Toad

You have a simple choice to make.

You either get the refund or you keep the faulty tablet and smash it with the hammer.

Is the potential loss of data or the money more important to you?