Crooks know about the remote wipe function, too

Oct 11, 2014 00:57 GMT  ·  By
There are multiple apps that can delete from afar the data on a mobile device
   There are multiple apps that can delete from afar the data on a mobile device

The remote wipe functionality for a mobile device is a handy feature to use in order to avoid private information falling in the wrong hand. For crooks, the wrong hand is attached to the long arm of the law, and they resort to the function if the mobile device is seized as evidence.

Incidents with tablets and smartphones in police custody being wiped remotely to remove incriminating proof have been recorded in multiple police stations in the UK, BBC News reports.

Issuing the “wipe” command to a remote mobile device can be done through the web browser, from any computer system connected to the Internet. As soon as the gadget has connectivity, it automatically complies and removes the content in its data storage area.

Apparently, the police in Dorset are baffled by these events, as they do not know how the files disappeared.

Wiping data remotely is a security feature made available by numerous apps running on Android, antivirus products in particular; on iOS, the Find My iPhone/iPad app can be configured for this type of action.

One solution to keep data on such devices intact is to put them in a radio-frequency shielded bag, which blocks all incoming signals.

Some would suggest that a similar effect is achieved by turning on Airplane mode; but some signals can be enabled (WiFi and Bluetooth) separately when the device is in such a state. Apart from this, if access to the phone is protected with a password, a PIN code or a security pattern, the police may not always be able to reach the Airplane mode function.