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So this is the story, my device is broken as you know, I've been offered a repair but am sceptical.
The device contains (in text files on the sdcard) details of my bank numbers, logins, contact numbers, emails and names.
I have all of it backed up ofcourse but my concern is that Sony would go 'rooting' around on my device and find my bank details.
Is this a normal procedure for them?
Can you do a master reset before you send it back? Unless your device is bricked in which case you cannot boot to perform a factory reset. I highly doubt they're allowed to do any snooping, I wouldn't be worried if it were my device, but maybe I'm too trusting...
Thanks for the response.
I've done a factory reset from the recovery menu, but that only deletes the applications and data, not the sdcard contents.
I've had my bank broken into many times and I'm not willing to take any chances.
SWFlyerUK said:
Thanks for the response.
I've done a factory reset from the recovery menu, but that only deletes the applications and data, not the sdcard contents.
I've had my bank broken into many times and I'm not willing to take any chances.
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Click to collapse
Is it not possible to manually delete the files? Honestly I wouldn’t worry that much. A company like Sony won’t take the time to actually go into the setting and fix a problem. They are quick to open the device, replace a part, do complete software wipe, then refurbish the part taken out to use for future repairs. With the labor cost involved to trouble shoot it is more cost effective to replace and wipe clean.
SWFlyerUK said:
I've done a factory reset from the recovery menu, but that only deletes the applications and data, not the sdcard contents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try removing the sdcard...
Or erasing USB memory in settings...
unclespoon said:
try removing the sdcard...
Or erasing USB memory in settings...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the files are on the internal SD card and you can't get past boot screen then theres not really any way you could delete files off.
Sony techs would not generally be looking through the user-space data and would certainly not be accessing or reading individual files, so you should be fine.
When perform the factory data reset under Privacy, check the erase USB storage to clear all user data.
SWFlyerUK said:
So this is the story, my device is broken as you know, I've been offered a repair but am sceptical.
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guys read with understanding!! SWFlyerUK has got bricked device, with no access to system settings, adb shell etc. I'm sure that he would not ask about 'how to delete files' in normal way..
Condi my friend, thank you for the clarification, I don't want to be impolite "on the direct German manner". Sometimes I am wondering how lazy someone is and how "special" answers are given.
But now to the "lesson learned": Important an confidential data should never stored unencrypted on a internal or external storage. Bank data, Pin numbers, credit card information and access data should always stored with a tool like password safe or comparable software.
(Yes I know, I am a clever ****! )
Bummer and concern.
obicom said:
Condi my friend, thank you for the clarification, I don't want to be impolite "on the direct German manner". Sometimes I am wondering how lazy someone is and how "special" answers are given.
But now to the "lesson learned": Important an confidential data should never stored unencrypted on a internal or external storage. Bank data, Pin numbers, credit card information and access data should always stored with a tool like password safe or comparable software.
(Yes I know, I am a clever ****! )
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately this is a problem. There have been several stories of techs doing exactly what he fears.
Unfortunately there is not much you can do at this point. Have you tried plugging in your tablet to your computer and accessing the files that way?
dtaylorr; no way at all to access the files.
The other option would be to wait until ICS comes out, then buy a new Tablet from the same store (It would be the same build.prop)
Download the file into cache, (assuming that doesn't need root) then updating the zip file on my other tablet and return the one I bought, returns allowed within 14days.
I've heard some stories which is why I was being careful, I'll send it back and cancel my cards if need be.
SWFlyerUK said:
dtaylorr; no way at all to access the files.
The other option would be to wait until ICS comes out, then buy a new Tablet from the same store (It would be the same build.prop)
Download the file into cache, (assuming that doesn't need root) then updating the zip file on my other tablet and return the one I bought, returns allowed within 14days.
I've heard some stories which is why I was being careful, I'll send it back and cancel my cards if need be.
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Click to collapse
You dont need new tab to get new update for your region. I could get it for you when ics will come.
Would you be able to do that condi, if I gave you my version?
Maybe you can try Android commander to access files from your pc.Everythings worth a try
Thanks, I'll give that a go.
I've not given up yet, I managed to sort my other issue out, it's not just about my bank details but also a 66£ charge LOL
Sony as a company would not allow snooping...it has a reputation to keep.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
Ask your question to sony by mail, let them reply with a statement that they would never do that.
That way when the **** might it the fan ( dont think so ) you have proof of them telling you that they dont do that.
of course
ataraxist said:
Sony as a company would not allow snooping...it has a reputation to keep.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
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Of course the company does not allow it, that's a given. 99% of the time you are fine.
However what an employee does in the middle of a repair is hard to manage. It is more rare than common, but I don't want to be the one.
While we can not always protect everything all the time, it is wise to do the everything we can to protect ourselves.
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/07/computer_repair_1.html
http://www.metafilter.com/62716/Geek-Squad-Steals-Porn
http://www.akdart.com/priv9.html
http://www.bankersonline.com/technology/techtalk2011/techtalk111011.html
Thanks for the responss guys.
I'll wait for ICS and maybe, just maybe Condi might be able to get me the update file needed for my tablet.
A lesson learnt indeed, I thought I'd learnt from my last hicup but obviously not! lol
I wouldnt be too worried
Even if it isnt Sony that will do the actual repair, the guys repairing your unit wouldn't have the time snooping around.
The unit is probably (hopefully) sent to one of the big repair centers sourced by Sony where the operators follow a strict protocol which means troubleshoot for type x for x seconds and so on. Try repair method x (that has stipulated time as well). If not working -> Swap. Then on to the next device.
I believe this information should be out there for all Android users and i dont recall seeing it anywhere but i hang out here right now and thought i would share what i discovered on accident.
i reference a RAZR M here but INSERT any Android phone as far as i can tell.
***please Devs and such i am not one so ignore my possible misuse of how exactly it operates but i just wanted to share the point of this not how the Android OS operates
i had a RAZR M with ROOT and installed Avast Mobile Security (i believe many others would do this as well) and since i was root i installed it as a /System app. this as some of you may not know makes it kinda part of the OS now. this means that a Factory Reset does not remove it but instead installs it again. i will explain how i discovered this:
- had a RAZR M as mentioned and i installed Avast as /System
- you can rename the app itself to whatever you want like "fletch33" and so anyone who finds your phone wouldnt know it was a security app and try to uninstall it. this is a great feature so i renamed it.
- this will do the standard stuff like locate your device, wipe it, make it beep, etc....
- i decided to give the phone to someone else and they wouldnt want root items or anything so i did a factory reset forgetting i had installed Avast as /System so they would have a clean start with the M
- since Avast was /System it became part of the Factory Reset process and so a what i thought was a clean fresh phone actually still had Avast on it but now since it was fresh and clean there were no signs like an app to remind me i had installed it as root. i honestly forgot it was on there.
- i had selected to get notifications of where the phone is if it traveled a distance but could see it whenever i wanted with a browser login to website and although i had reset it that STILL WORKS! i am getting emails when it moves and can login and see it.
- there are no visible signs that this is on the M (insert any phone)
- in my knowledge the only way the tracking etc... would stop is if i were to ODIN or SBF or whatever the equivalent is on that particular device or i would have to re-install Avast and it would then allow me to put in my passcode and then i could uninstall it.
the moral of the story is that any used phone could have had this done and if not by accident like mine but on purpose for whatever reason.
fortunately i gave the M to a family member and i will fix it for him but it really made me think what it could be used for ....
if this has been mentioned or i am incorrect i apologize in advance but when i started getting emails about where the phone i gave away was located all the time from Avast after a Factory Reset i decided i should share this so that others might take precautions with their second hand Android device.
1. I always Odin my phone and procedure to rooting with in a few short hours of owning device.
And if not, I'm pretty sure unlocking the device will erase everything. (in a lot of my previous cases)
2. And I see nothing wrong with the previous owner being able to track me picking up his wife and taking her back to the white house to make her my First lady
Yep, first thing I would do is wipe the phone properly.
"Factory reset" is a really bad name for the process...it does nothing of the sort.
Um, makes complete sense that you can still track the device. I assumed that before you even posted it. Same way you can track devices through android device manager, moto software, etc etc.
You're forgetting a huge oversight here.......it doesn't really do much good if stealing someones phone, then wiping it, would get rid of all tracking options. Kinda defeats the purpose. Otherwise people would steal someone's phone, factory reset, then go about their merry way and you're SOL...
TechSavvy2 said:
Um, makes complete sense that you can still track the device. I assumed that before you even posted it. Same way you can track devices through android device manager, moto software, etc etc.
You're forgetting a huge oversight here.......it doesn't really do much good if stealing someones phone, then wiping it, would get rid of all tracking options. Kinda defeats the purpose. Otherwise people would steal someone's phone, factory reset, then go about their merry way and you're SOL...
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Click to collapse
sure but since most Android phones dont offer a iPhone like recovery and most users dont even know what root it then to me its those people that should have concern.
i always ODIN or SBF etc.. myself if i pick up a used phone but most people woudnt even know about that.
Manufacturers should release iPhone like recovery system so that an average person can clean their phone without tech knowledge and downloading a file somewhere.
Hi there. I'm on a team that manages a large number of Android tablets for the company at which I'm employed. The higher ups are concerned that our users will just walk off with the tablets and do a factory reset, making the device theirs. I was hoping there was some way to password-protect the bootloader, but it doesn't seem like that's possible. So now we're thinking that even if we could remove the recovery, it would ease the minds of the higher-ups to know that if a tablet disappears, the user will have to have a working knowledge of fastboot to be able to to a factory reset on the device, and that's good enough for us. I've looked into possibly modifying the stock recovery to just remove the factory reset option, and I would be willing to flash a modified CWM or TWRP without factory reset, if either of them exist.
I know the old adage: Physical access is root access, but if we can at least dissuade them from stealing the devices, it would make my bosses feel much more at ease about spending a buttload on the tablets.
Thanks!
Whether or not these people are able to perform a factory reset on these devices after walking off with them, it's still theft. A factory reset doesn't transfer ownership of the device. Are these people employees? Are they customers?
Sent from my Evita.
timmaaa said:
Whether or not these people are able to perform a factory reset on these devices after walking off with them, it's still theft. A factory reset doesn't transfer ownership of the device. Are these people employees? Are they customers?
Sent from my Evita.
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Click to collapse
They're employees, and we know it's theft, but we are a very large company, and it has happened before, so we're just trying to make it harder on them, because it's not always easy to find the culprit.
Unfortunately I doubt removing the option to factory reset will actually stop the theft. The majority of people wouldn't even know how to perform a factory reset or that the option even exists. So the fact that the option is removed is completely lost on them and it won't deter the theft. Even if you could install a modified recovery with no factory reset option, the option would still exist in the bootloader.
Sent from my Evita.
timmaaa said:
Unfortunately I doubt removing the option to factory reset will actually stop the theft. The majority of people wouldn't even know how to perform a factory reset or that the option even exists. So the fact that the option is removed is completely lost on them and it won't deter the theft. Even if you could install a modified recovery with no factory reset option, the option would still exist in the bootloader.
Sent from my Evita.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah.. that's what I told my boss, but he said the security team still wants some sort of deterrent. We were hoping there would be some way to password-protect the bootloader, but it doesn't really seem possible. So now, just to make the security team happy, we're going to try to roll our own recovery with the factory reset option removed. Then, at the very least, we'll make an announcement to the employees who use the tablets and tell them that they can't do a factory reset, so the tablet is completely useless outside of the facility, especially since it's in kiosk mode and can't connect to any other network than ours.
You'll likely have to contract a developer to create a custom recovery for you. The option will still exist in the bootloader so you'll just have to hope nobody works that out.
Sent from my Evita.
timmaaa said:
You'll likely have to contract a developer to create a custom recovery for you. The option will still exist in the bootloader so you'll just have to hope nobody works that out.
Sent from my Evita.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah.. I think we're probably going to develop one ourselves. I was just hoping someone else had already done it so I could be done with this project and on to the next one haha. We know that people can still just flash a different recovery in the bootloader, but the security guys have basically said that if they're smart enough to do that, then there's nothing we can do except try to catch them.
I agree with the security guys. In the end if someone really wants to steal the tablet they'll find a way to make it work. Hopefully for most people the effort involved in just getting fastboot working (drivers etc) would outweigh the gain. I don't think you're going to find an already developed recovery without the factory reset option as it's intrinsic to a normally functioning recovery.
Sent from my Evita.
timmaaa said:
I agree with the security guys. In the end if someone really wants to steal the tablet they'll find a way to make it work. Hopefully for most people the effort involved in just getting fastboot working (drivers etc) would outweigh the gain. I don't think you're going to find an already developed recovery without the factory reset option as it's intrinsic to a normally functioning recovery.
Sent from my Evita.
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Click to collapse
Yep, I completely agree with you as well. I think we'd be much better off just trying to discourage the theft of the tablets... I said the exact thing. Physical access is root access. Outside of searching bags and pockets at the end of the shift, there's nothing we can do to stop someone from taking one if they want it.
Couldn't agree more. Well good luck with it all.
Sent from my Evita.
My ex distroyed my external drive with my phone backup on it. I have rooted my note 4, however i did a factory reset and somehow screwed up the SU app. I have not touched the phone in months, but it appears now I may need to try and recover the original partition, if its even possible. I cannot get my PC to recognize the phone because i cannot seem to enable USB debugging no matter which PC i use. Possibly a result of my screwing up the root?
anyway, first I guess I should start by asking - is it even possible to try and recover an original partition after being overwritten a few times? If it is, and here's another stretch, is there anyone out there who might be willing/able to investigate the possibility with me remotely? alternately, is there anyone you might refer me to who could possibly do this remotely? Im happy to pay for services. My ex is trying to take my kiddo from me and I have no evidence to defend myself without my text history.
thanks in advance for your time.
regards,
J.
Yes and No.Firstly you should consider the fact that Your phone drive has nothing to do with a factory reset.A reset would only wipe data and system partitions.Secondly you should consult a professional because your issue is very serious and I don't want you screwing around.But I can assure you after 3 years of a phone being factory reset many times and using it some tine without filling up the storage fully and running a data recovery software I was able to retrieve my brother's old photo.That he took while buying the phone.So There is a lot of chance you can get them back just contact a professional.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
Aight so I have this Samsung Galaxy J7 Max that I've been trying to unlock for more than 2 years now. I of course, don't want to lose the super important data it holds. It got locked out randomly and hasn't been able to take up the pattern I had put on it till date. I'm absolutely sure no one changed its lock screen pattern and its the phone that is unable to recognize the exact same password it had before this happening. I got hold of it today and yet again, started looking for solutions on YouTube and the internet itself. After all of my research, one thing is clear. There is only one way that the pattern lock can be removed in such a condition; by deleting this system folder called gesture.key that lies within the phone itself. I am by no means a nerdy software dev or something but I do have very little knowledge about these workarounds. I used an ADB via a cmd terminal to contact my phone. But it turns out that due to my usb debugging setting not being turned on in my phone, the adb didn't have the required authorization to make any changes to the target. I then got my phone into stock recovery mode and chose the Install through ADB option there. Now when I input the command adb devices, the prompt showed me my device ID, but instead of the "unauthorized" indicator beside it, it now had the indicator "sideload". I had no idea of what had to be done when such happens, so I tried the adb shell > cd data/system > su > rm *.key [taken from an XDA forums thread] commands again. But right on the second step it displayed error this time. I have tried using a key eraser via sd card too, but it just doesn't happen, the sd card folder in the stock mode does not display the contents of the folder.
Now the phone isn't being an obstacle in my life right now, but I really hope there's a way to fix it. Early help would be appreciated. Thank You.
If the data is super important why isn't it redundantly backed up?
Having a set lock screen and storing data on the OS is a sure fire way to lose data, eventually.
Maybe you'll get lucky... is that drive encrypted?
If not it may still be corrupted and unusable.
Don't put yourself in this position again... been there, done that
@blackhawk As I said, this was an absolutely random incident, had never even thought this could've been the case someday. Its not like the phone crashed and then this happened, I turned off my phone's display and the next time I woke it up, the pattern wasn't working anymore. Furthermore, the timed attempts that happen after 5 incorrect tries wasn't existing anymore. Now it could be that someone did get the timed attempts wrong as well [it isn't my own phone]. But I really don't see any other reason to that occurrence.
About the backups, I mean cmon, I was 15 back then, a medico student even more so. I never got my hands around backing up anything. But yes, have been backing up every single bit of data within these two years.
The storage drive shouldn't be encrypted. It was a regular phone bought online that had pdfs, images, recordings and videos stored. The google account was not that of the owner either! It was my uncle's account that was being used ever since he bought it. And since there was never a problem having used his account for quite a while, we never cared to change it to a new google account. Now my uncle's google account itself handles another device, his own phone, exact same model, Galaxy J7 Max. I have tried using his account at the Google Find My Device app to locate and unlock the phone that way [I hope you know it has the three options Ring, Secure and Erase Data]. But it happens so that the Secure phone with password option only for devices that have been lost and don't have a security lock already setup, which wasn't, unfortunately, my case. So that option was greyed out.
For the data corruption, you might be correct. But that phone still does receive SMS texts, calls, whatsapp texts and other notifications. They just don't show up on the lock screen anymore. I honestly had the "Screw the data, I'll erase it anyway" thought yesterday, but during my latest tries, I found the XDA forums website to be quite helpful. Had not it been the damn USB debugging, the solution I approached from this forum would've got the job done in a couple minutes. Again, if the data might've gone corrupted, I will erase the data [I mean I would have to]. But this little glimmer of hope that I experienced yesterday is what is preventing me from doing that. I really hope there is a fix to my situation.
@Chinmay47
a phone can get booted into these modes
Normal ( AKA Android OS )
Recovery
Fastboot
Sideload
EDL
Sideload mode is used to flash OTAs and/or ROMs.
Recovery mode allows you to perform some ADB actions as e.g. pull userdata, but this reqires ADB ( read: USB debug ) got enabled.
So my guess is you can't recover phone's userdata at your own, this would have to be done by an external service who can pull out phone's internal SD-card and has the forensic tools to read it.
@jwoegerbauer Surprisingly the idea of taking the phone to a forensic service struck me yesternight too. As you mentioned, since I can't recover the phone's data myself, all tips and tweaks on the web should now be struck off of my list of solutions. I'll leave the data to some forensic services then. Let's hope the recovery is worth the hassle. The thread is still open to more suggestions though. Thanks for the replies everyone. Really appreciate it!
Chinmay47 said:
@jwoegerbauer Surprisingly the idea of taking the phone to a forensic service struck me yesternight too. As you mentioned, since I can't recover the phone's data myself, all tips and tweaks on the web should now be struck off of my list of solutions. I'll leave the data to some forensic services then. Let's hope the recovery is worth the hassle. The thread is still open to more suggestions though. Thanks for the replies everyone. Really appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It not a card they can pull. More than likely it's on a BGA chipset, the hardest kind there is to work with.
If they can't access the data on/with the mobo they will have to unsolder the chipset without damaging it then put it into a test jig or another mobo (after pulling that mobo's matching chipset).
If they can access the data on the mobo, not so bad. Otherwise not so good.
Let us know how this plays out for you.
Here's one I found showing you this complex procedure: https://flashfixers.com/recover-data-dead-phone-chip-off-data-recovery/
They may be able to help you, but I have no personal knowledge of this company.
blackhawk said:
If they can't access the data on/with the mobo they will have to unsolder the chipset without damaging it then put it into a test jig or another mobo (after pulling that mobo's matching chipset).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually thought of this idea right after a couple days from the beginning of the problem. Yes its gonna take loads of precision and patience but it does sound doable. Maybe that's what is gonna be the last option for the forensic service too in case, god forbid, they aren't able to do it the "simple" way. Can't say yet, but I'm gonna keep this thread updated with all the developments that take place.
Chinmay47 said:
Actually thought of this idea right after a couple days from the beginning of the problem. Yes its gonna take loads of precision and patience but it does sound doable. Maybe that's what is gonna be the last option for the forensic service too in case, god forbid, they aren't able to do it the "simple" way. Can't say yet, but I'm gonna keep this thread updated with all the developments that take place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they need to remove the chipset the chances of failure increase. Flash memory retension is generally good for 10+ years but it may be damaged in the removal process if so, snake eyes.
Get price quotes up front for the whole process.
Once they got the phone, they got you by the balls. Not saying they aren't trustworthy but feel them out. If it's a couple hundred and you get the data back, you did good.
No idea of the cost though, my guess is $400-1000+ especially if they need to pull the chipset.
That's high risk even if they do it by the book.
If their policy is no data, no charge... expect higher rates to cover their loses.
@blackhawk All of that sounds kinda terrifying if you ask me. Well I mean, there is always a first option that can be tried without any mentions of pull-aparts. Yet I will surely judge the person well before I hand my device in his hands. I would try my level best to not take it to the critical stage, but if it needs be and there is a really high chance of losing my data, I can factory reset my data at home by myself too can't I? Future shall tell I suppose.
If you factory reset it all data will be lost.
It will not be recoverable!
If you want the data you will need to use a service like I showed you. They will need physical access to the phone to recovery the data.
The phone may be scrape afterwards
@blackhawk Sure does look like it would be! But paying to get your phone reset for you is way to harsher than doing it yourself. It is only in case the data is nearly impossible to recover that I'll reset the phone myself.
Chinmay47 said:
@blackhawk Sure does look like it would be! But paying to get your phone reset for you is way to harsher than doing it yourself. It is only in case the data is nearly impossible to recover that I'll reset the phone myself.
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Click to collapse
Reset? Most likely destroyed.
Do you really want the data?
blackhawk said:
Reset? Most likely destroyed.
Do you really want the data?
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Click to collapse
I actually do though. But well, if it ain't coming back then why wish for it. Yeah the data was really important.
Chinmay47 said:
I actually do though. But well, if it ain't coming back then why wish for it. Yeah the data was really important.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Call them up and see what they say.
Since it's not physically damaged they may be able to access it none invasively.
blackhawk said:
Call them up and see what they say.
Since it's not physically damaged they may be able to access it none invasively.
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Click to collapse
I'll do that and report back ASAP. Thanks for the help sire!