Pro tip: Wipe porn off your phone before exchanging it

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

  1. Abstinence: Turn your thoughts of lust to something more wholesome -- like cross-stitch.
  2. Factory reset: Getting rid of your pocket-sized den of sin? Always do a wipe first.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Phil Nickinson