Proper wiping (erasing) of data on your devices is important to protect against sensitive and private data falling into the wrong hands. When data is exposed due to a mobile device (i.e., phone, tablet, laptop) being compromised, lost, stolen, or improperly disposed of, the result can also be costly. Depending on the nature of the data, you and the University may be at risk of identity theft and financial or medical fraud. This is also true when a workstation is compromised, stolen, or not disposed of properly.

To avoid data exposure, when a device is replaced, disposed of, lost, or stolen, please wipe the data from your device. Read more to learn how to protect your data.

Apple Devices (iPhones, iPads, etc.)

If you have your device with you:

1. Sign out of iCloud.
2. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

If you have lost your phone and want to wipe it remotely:

Note: This only works if you have enabled Find My iPhone on your device.

1. Sign in to iCloud.
2. You can ring your device, track its location, or remotely erase all data on it by selecting Erase iPad/iPhone.

Check Apple for the most up-to-date instructions:

• What to do before you sell or give away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
• iCloud: Erase your device with Find My iPhone

Android

If you have your phone with you:

To be absolutely sure that your data is erased with no possibility of retrieval follow these steps:

1. Encrypt your phone by going to Settings > Security > Encryption.
2. Perform a factory reset by going to Settings > Backup and reset.
3. If you want to be absolutely certain that the data is completely overwritten and erased, fill your device's memory with some dummy data (videos should fill it up quickly), and repeat the above process.

If you have lost your phone and want to wipe it remotely:

1. Sign in to Google Find My Device, where you can ring your device, track its location, or remotely erase all data on it.

For more information:

• Find, lock, or erase a lost Android device
• The best way to completely wipe your Android device

Windows Phone

If you have your phone with you:

1. Go to Settings > About > Reset your phone.

If you have lost your phone and want to wipe it remotely:

1. You can use the Find My Phone function on your Microsoft account to ring or lock your device, track its location, or remotely erase all data on it. For more information from Microsoft, read Reset my phone.

Laptop and Desktop Computers

Before disposing of your devices or hard drives, make sure to wipe data on them permanently by using software such as DBAN Hard Drive Eraser and Data Clearing Utility. Apple users can also perform such a wipe with instructions from the article, How to reinstall macOS. Linux users can use Shred from the command line, which will permanently erase data.

Note: Simply deleting files from your operating system does not permanently remove the information from your hard drive until it is overwritten.