Android factory reset ineffective

On every Android device, there is a factory reset feature, for users to wipe out every data on their device.

Researchers in Cambridge University have now discovered that many devices running on the Android platform, might not be able to completely wipe out users’ data contained in their internal disks and SD cards as expected.

According to Engadget, they came up with this finding, after testing 21 devices running on various Android platforms ranging from Android 2.3 to 4.3 from five different device manufacturers.

The researchers said they were able to recover part of the data that was supposedly wiped out. Adding that full-disk encryption was no hindrance to the discovery.

The data retrieved, include: contacts, images and videos, texts, e-mails etc.

The researchers claim that they had access Google's master token,  which is used in accessing user data, in most of the devices.