I'm planning to buy a refurbished iPhone from a reputable seller, but I'm worried about my privacy. Can my privacy be compromised with a refurbished device? If there's a risk, what steps can I take to completely protect myself, such as doing a factory reset? Should I just consider buying a new phone instead, even if it costs more?
4 Answers
Honestly, there's not much risk if you factory reset the iPhone. Just to be extra sure, do it again yourself as soon as you get it. This ensures it’s completely wiped and not linked to anyone else's accounts.
If you're really into privacy, maybe reconsider owning a smartphone altogether. The iPhone has its privacy flaws, but you could look into a degoogled Android or even a PinePhone if you're tech-savvy. Otherwise, consider getting a basic phone without all the invasive features.
No worries! As long as you do a factory reset when you get the phone, your privacy should be fine. It's a good step to reset it again even if it seems like it was done already. This ensures that it's not linked to any previous Apple ID.
You should be safe if the previous owner removed the phone from their iCloud account and you do a factory reset. Most reputable sellers will already have done this for you. If you're really concerned, just reset it again—it’s a quick process!
What if they tampered with something physically inside the phone? I mean, with banking and sensitive info on phones now, it's a valid concern.