Kill switch ruling could make mobile phone recycling safer
Wednesday, May 21, 2014 - 13:12:31
Over in the US state of Minnesota, it has been ruled that all mobile phones sold to members of the public must from this point on include a built-in kill switch, enabling people to completely wipe personal data from the device if it is lost, stolen or needs to be recycled.
There is growing concern about the degree to which smartphones could provide malicious third parties with access to private details about the owner, since these connected devices hold much more than basic contact information today. People use their handsets for everything from social networking to online banking, which is a bit of a problem if a phone is misplaced or sold to be recycled.
Creating a kill switch for all phones sold will mean that there is a fundamental level of protection offered to people who buy smartphones. And although manufacturers have been offering this feature on certain devices for some time, this is the first instance of its inclusion being made a legal requirement, according to TechWeek Europe.
With billions of pounds worth of economic damage caused by data loss and theft originating from smartphones each year, there is a vested interest in making them safer and more secure.
If you are thinking of selling your old phone to be recycled, or even passing it on to a friend or family member when you upgrade, then remember that you need to thoroughly remove all of your information from the device before parting ways with it.
The various reputable recycling companies which operate in the UK will also be capable of keeping your data safe by deleting it if any remains, but it is always best not to tempt fate and to instead act to clean it up when you go to sell it.
Latest News
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - 10:32:41
Every industry around the world has been impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and recycling has been especially affected as a result of force [...]
Read More
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 21:33:36
Apple has pulled back the curtains on the all-new iPhone SE, bringing with it a raft of eco-friendly design features which aim to improve the green cr [...]
Read More
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 - 21:32:00
Researchers from New Zealand have demonstrated a new recycling solution which could help companies to reclaim rare materials from smartphones, PCs and [...]
Read More