OK, we've talked (several times) about how the Android phone is for porn. And we've talked about how during a full wipe on your Android phone doesn't necessarily kill off every file that might have been downloaded. (And this gets even more murky with phones that have dedicated internal storage.)
Anyway, where we're going with this is that if you're sending back your a phone -- be it for exchange, or repair, or whatever -- don't leave little pornographic surprises behind for the next person. 'Cause that's what happened to an Ann Arbor, Mich., woman who found either five (or a half-dozen, depending on who you ask) porn videos on her supposedly new Evo 4G. It's not the phone's fault -- it's the previous owner, and the third-party retailer that told the woman she was getting a new phone and instead gave her a steamy pot of porno.
And because we're all about teaching you folks whenever we can, hit the source link or picture above to hear all about it, and then let's discuss a few ways you can be sure to keep your phone clean, after the break. [Click on Detroit via Consumerist]
How to return your phone free of porn
- Abstinence: Turn your thoughts of lust to something more wholesome -- like cross-stitch.
- Factory reset: Getting rid of your pocket-sized den of sin? Always do a wipe first.
- Stay organized: It's important to know where your porn goes. Remember that a whole lot of data ends up on the storage card -- downloads as well as app data -- so wipe it, too. Or keep it around for sentimental reasons. Your call.
- Streaming play: Don't want dirty downloads? Consider a little streaming action. Chances are any temporary files will be wiped later. But, again, see Nos. 2 and 3.
And if you still can't be bothered to do any of that, then at least do the following: Be a good neighbor: Ask first. Maybe your phone's new owner would like what we tend to call "bonus applications." Give as ye would receive and all.
Reader comments
Pro tip: Wipe porn off your phone before exchanging it
Excellent article. I used an amazing software called Porn Terminator to scan, detect & delete porn off my PC. Does anyone know if there is a similar mobile app? I got Porn Terminator from:
http://www.pornterminator.com/
Very good article! Even deleting the photo's and video's out of your "gallery" only unlinks the file but the data remains on the phone which you pointed out. You should try using the Binary Blackout Pro app on the Android market to overwrite the data that remains to actually remove the data for good so it can't be forensically recovered with today technologies. I love the app for my nexus:cool:.
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=binary%20blackout%20pro&c=apps&hl=en
This can happen on with any electronic device, computer, cell phone whatever. I can tell if the phone is new because every phone I have ever purchased has always been opened in front of me, I never let the store tech take the screen protector off and I always do a complete system restore, for good measure. Its not a carrier specific issue, just like Best Buy isn't the only computer repair team that steals your pics, videos, music and porn collection.
Step 1.) Wipe phone of any unwanted files.
Step 2.) Wipe screen of any unwanted spooge.
You can put porn on almost any phone except un-jailbroken iPhone probably...the real news here is that the shop sold a used phone as new and didn't even check if it had the firsy owner's stuff on it.
They should make a law that new phones have to be factory/manufacturer sealedin their boxes (like Samsung does). Used phones can be sold at a discount. Expansys UK does that at least, probably more do as well?
....can...can I get that phone plz? ( -_-)'
...some people wouldnt said nothing they would be glad it was already there , LOL as above post's demostrate.I would not have mind them,but i dont actually go to mobile porn sites .
I left porn on my phone when I exchanged it! God, I hope it was my porn that shocked that poor lady.
Added bonus!!!...lol.. HTC EVO 4GEEEEEEEZZZ
Sprint !!! What a JOKE of a company . now selling USED phones as new , CAUGHT RED HANDED ripping off customers , that company sucks !!!SO GLAD I left them !!!
What do you think happens with the phone you return? You think they just throw it away? Of course it get's cleaned and goes back on the shelf.
Actually, the joke is on you, your reading and comprehension skills suck. "Third-party retailer."
I don't care who sees my pron, in fact they should thank me!
Couple of things stood out for me in that "news" report. The fact that the lady was so embarrassed. I guess it was so bad that she went on the local news to talk about it to ease her embarrassment. And second, the fact that they were astonished that some of the videos were close to 12 minutes in length. Really? 12 minutes? That's a freakin' marathon, huh?
At least the EVO got some more free coverage. :)
Yeah, why is this news worthy? Why DID she contact the media? If the media ran a story off of every tip they get, the news will be filled with garbage (come to think of it, it mostly is) like this. This is not the first time something like this has happened. I think there is an Apple enthusiast at that News station.
Lmao. Why would they put this on the news? Hilarious.
Ha ha ha. Makes me want to download hideous content just to send in!
There is a local radio DJ here in Tampa that bought a phone on eBay last year and it had photos of the sellers "manhood" on it.
seriously who calls the news unless they want something. I'm pretty sure we'll end up finding out this was a scam.
I have to agree with this 100%. I'm an cell phone technician(for a very well known insurance carrier) and I see some of the craziest stuff(I could go on for months) left on phones from people not wiping their phones. It is our responsibility to wipe phones when we send them out and we have numerous quality measures in place to make sure this happens. However, most people don't seem to understand that when their broken handset comes back to us we REFURBISH IT if possible and we can see everything that is left in/on that handset after its repaired, but before it is cleared. They have to be fixed first, then cleared!
Sometimes the phone is not in condition to be cleared yourself before sending it in, in that case... You better hope you have nothing on it that you dont want anybody to see. Cause someone just mightl...:)
The first thought that came to my mind was whether they cleaned the phone before they sold it to her lol.
ha, just another reason why sprint sucks ass. they sell you used phones as new. my verizon 3g is basically just as fast as sprints 4g ( thats pretty pathetic ). the EVO is def a very nice phone but the service just absolutely SUCKS. i will NEVER go back to sprint EVER
Did you read the story? Third party retailer. It could just as easily been a Verizon phone.
@ borgey401
Make up what stories you want about your Verizon 3g being ALMOST as fast as sprints 4g, but you know its a lie. My evo 4g against my friends Verizon pre plus, is a night and day difference. My evo is faster just in 3g, and kills it when on 4g. Verizon sucks and their service lacks compared to Sprint. Verizon, pay more get less (SMART)!
Why don't you go against a Verizon Android phone and not that garbage chick phone (pre)
Someone can't read very well.
Let me end this VZW/Sprint debate real quick.
---->>> Ever since Consumer Reports (reputable and non biased) has been ranking wireless carriers, Verizon has been at the top...every time! Sprint....never been on the top.
side note...why does Sprint experience such high customer churn??
The EVO is great! Sprint service, especially 4G, if you have it in your area, from what I read, is awesome and faster than VZW 3G. But c'mon...when LTE is lauched, its over. Sprint keeps dropping their price (if your service was so good, conventional economics tells you this wouldn't be necessary)?????
I've never had a single time on Sprint where I thought, "damn, my browser doesn't load fast enough". I've never had a dropped call in over 7 yrs unless I was driving through mountains. I pay less, you pay more. Have fun with that!
@borgey401
Wow, I'm not sure where to begin. I guess next time read the article. Unless you're trying to read it on your Verizon phone over their "just as fast and Sprint's 4g" 3G service, then you're probably still waiting for it to load up and couldn't have read the story yet.
So, what flavor was the Verizon Koolaid that you drank? It must have been good to make you post such a dumb comment.
Post and Comments are Hilarious! The right thing to do is Wipe it....you dont have to take a shit in the toliet but it shows a bit of Class!
LOL
Um, I'd call that a feature.
Oh Gawd, Steve Jobs was RIGHT... !!!
I think my head just exploded.
...I'll take the phone.
lol. gotta admit, that story is kinda funny.
If i am returning my phone within the return period or if I'm returning it due to warranty replacement, it is not my responsibility to wipe it. If the Manufacture/carrier plans on re-selling the phone it is their responsibility to ensure all data both potentially offensive and non-offensive is removed from the device beforehand.
To prevent the risk of identity theft, I always have wiped my devices before retuning them but if something gets left behind it is not my fault.
Right. Plus it was the sales person fault saying that is was brand spanking (pun very much intended) new. The porn wouldn't bother me, but the blatant lie would.
While this statement is true, its more of a courtesy. Clearly scumbags work in retail, no seriously they do, especially at unsavory places like cellular retailers (ie non corporate stores) where returned items are resold as new or open box etc.
But I have to say, I bet you are the one who never rewinds that damn video tape too, aren't you, you know you are. Oh wait we use DVD's and stream porn now :)
no links :)
http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/24174626/index.html