MVD: Factory Reset Does Not Completely Clear Smartphone Memory
Russians have been warned about a dangerous and widespread misconception concerning smartphone replacement. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) issued this caution through its “Russian Cyberpolice Herald” Telegram channel, highlighting significant privacy risks.
The agency clarified that a substantial amount of personal user data often remains on an old device. “The common belief that a factory reset completely erases a device`s memory (a step many users neglect entirely) creates considerable vulnerabilities for personal privacy,” the MVD message emphasized.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs detailed how cybercriminals, employing specialized software, are capable of recovering various types of sensitive information from supposedly wiped devices. This recoverable data includes fragments of important documents, traces of user activity such as call logs, text messages, and even location data from photos and videos. Furthermore, fraudsters can gain unauthorized access to browser history, saved passwords, cached copies of messenger conversations, and precise geolocation information. If an attacker successfully gains control over a device, they can subsequently infiltrate user accounts across different online services and retrieve personal data without requiring a password.
In related news, it was previously reported that fraudsters have launched a new deceptive scheme targeting Russians, specifically involving the distribution of counterfeit award orders to military personnel.
