Where to donate or recycle old cell phones and laptops

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know any place that can wipe these devices of personal info then accept them as donations?

I factory reset the phones and one laptop but was unable to even start the other one. I have read that even returning a device to its original factory settings doesn't delete info.

Both Apple and Best Buy said they don't do this.

Thank you in advance for any advice you might have.

[Anonymous]

On a phone, Factory Reset is enough.

The data is all encrypted and the key is destroyed when you reset.

[Anonymous]

Bumping this thread - I have 2 Macs that won't start and no idea what to do with them. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

On computers, remove and shred (or smash with a sledgehammer) the storage device (hard disk or SSD). That is the only part of the device that maintains data.

For cell phones, shred or smash the whole thing. Factory reset is not trustworthy if you are truly concerned about data breaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On computers, remove and shred (or smash with a sledgehammer) the storage device (hard disk or SSD). That is the only part of the device that maintains data.

For cell phones, shred or smash the whole thing. Factory reset is not trustworthy if you are truly concerned about data breaches.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

I just got new phones at Verizon. I got free new iPhones for trading mine in. I traded these 5c iPhones in. Could you do that?

Also Facebook marketplace for people who need junk phones to trade in.

[Anonymous]

I just got new phones at Verizon. I got free new iPhones for trading mine in. I traded these 5c iPhones in. Could you do that?

Why would you do this if you were concerned about your data?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On computers, remove and shred (or smash with a sledgehammer) the storage device (hard disk or SSD). That is the only part of the device that maintains data.

For cell phones, shred or smash the whole thing. Factory reset is not trustworthy if you are truly concerned about data breaches.

If you have an Apple Macbook, the SSD is soldered in. You need to boot with Command-R and erase the disk using the Disk Utility. No, hackers are not going after erased hard drives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On computers, remove and shred (or smash with a sledgehammer) the storage device (hard disk or SSD). That is the only part of the device that maintains data.

For cell phones, shred or smash the whole thing. Factory reset is not trustworthy if you are truly concerned about data breaches.

iPhones are encrypted. If you reset them, the password and data are lost (unless the hackers have the same resources as the FBI, and if they did, why are they going after you?)

[Anonymous]

No, hackers are not going after erased hard drives.

You are awfully trustworthy.

[Anonymous]

Err...trusting.