Thinking of recycling an old cell phone in honor of Earth Day? Before you do, you’ll want to delete any personal information stored on the device. That way, your emails, text messages, contacts, photos, and other personal information won’t fall into the wrong hands.
Here’s what to do:
- Use the “factory reset” to “wipe” your device.
- Remove or erase SIM and SD cards.
- Remove any apps you’ve downloaded and the data associated with them.
After you’ve taken these steps, double check to make sure your personal information is gone. For more details about each step, check out Disposing of Your Mobile Device.
If you need information about where to recycle old phones and accessories, these sites can help:
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- CTIA-The Wireless Association
- Your wireless carrier’s website
April 22, 2013 by Nicole Vincent Consumer Education Specialist, FTC
Source: http://www.onguardonline.gov/blog/tech-tip-earth-day