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McAfee consultant Robert Siciliano on why you should smash all your old mobile devices to protect your identity.
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Protect yourself from identity theft my next guest says take humor two year old -- no kidding.
Roberts -- silly and -- is an identity theft expert and consultant for the computer security company.
McAfee banks were coming on the show I -- the listen I am shocked by this I have heard they're supposed to spend all this time.
Are racing stuff then and and that you think oh just get a hammer out tell me why.
We -- thirty devices that we but laptops desktops netbooks notebooks ipads iphones blackberries and android mobile phones -- Craigslist I drove all the Massachusetts.
In people's living rooms in their -- home visits -- -- and so forth.
-- -- -- of the twenty bucks fifty bucks a hundred bucks.
And I took all the devices they set them up to eight forensics expert who actually -- use tools that are -- readily available off the Internet.
Now and we did not able to.
We've we've found in people's Social Security numbers back economists credit card numbers that family photos -- videos.
We've bond court documents child support -- eviction notice -- final hour well yeah.
A lot of warrant.
So -- -- exposed to resell this stuff.
If people picking it up -- get all my personal debt.
Well.
We also found viruses to by the way and that -- my theory is is that although windows XP machines that are out there right now.
If you -- to buy one off the Internet that you probably get a virus.
If you were to sell one on the Internet you probably come.
-- your identity stolen and the same thing with the android mobile phones there -- really big problem as well we can't data on them.
And even when you reset the device we also -- information as well.
RA let's talk about apple the iPhone and rim Blackberry is that better or worse.
So both of those phones that are really good job of of remove any information when the owner reset the device so really it -- the windows XP and the android phones whereas.
A Blackberry and apple perform very well.
So they take away here and what's become crystal clear here because I I've never heard this before and I think it's really valuable information.
If if you have a lot laptop and it's who uses -- windows.
Interface right.
You're trouble you do not want to sell that you wanna resell that could you not gonna get a -- go after with a hand right.
Saving -- android phone night you can sell the laptop because tell the desktop but remove the hard drive oh okay.
OK and then take that hard drive and drill bunch of holes in it are beaten to death -- -- -- The -- lot of fun and I can't tell you Robert Robert I have three laptops that -- Fitting that that are old that I don't use -- all apple should I just get at a big hammer.
So with the apple -- fair to get better but.
-- -- -- thing there they have the forensics people that understand how to -- -- that are out -- the professionals even the non professionals -- not.
The guys that -- on the web and they understand how to use these different software programs.
They -- -- way of working their way around and finding the information so all put up fifty bucks you might get part of the heart -- you might get for it is it worth risking your identity.
Now now because the losses there could be so much greater if somebody get your Social Security if they start taking -- credit in your name's.
I mean the losses there could be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Right so I would destroy the devices that would destroy the hard drives I would destroy android phones go ahead and sell your your iPhone go ahead and -- your Blackberry.
But destroy everything else and if you're buying second hand devices you would also.
Install it -- virus anti spyware anti -- as well because like I said with the XP machines we -- we found viruses.
Wow.
OK and a get a lot of frustrations out this weekend let me tell yet.
-- Robert thanks for coming in tonight appreciate your time great advice.
