can private data be "un-erased" after factory reset?

[cookieJones]

Hi. I'm completely new to ipad, and clueless.

Yesterday my mother got the new one (=ipad 3?) with ver 5.1.
It is Wifi only, but Best Buy says she can trade it in (+ more $) for a 4G version.

Big concern is her credit card info and passwords which presumably are stored on the HD.
BestBuy says before re-selling it they do a full factory reset, which will erase everything.
My fear is that with the right tools and skill, "erased" data can still be recovered.

Any opinions on this?

 

[Mickey330]

My recommendation would be for your mom to do a "restore" on the iPad herself, before she turns it in to Best Buy. A restore puts on a brand new iOS and the iPad will be as if it cam straight out of the box. So, all personal info will definitely be gone. There's nothing left...

I say do it herself because, although I am sure Best Buy has a good employee, I would be nervous if I handed over my iPad, with its personal data, without taking steps myself to make sure the data is gone. Of course, and as always, YMMV.

Marilyn

 

[Skull One]

Mickey330 types much wisdom....

*that just struck me as funny if you take into account the avatar picture*

 

[Mickey330]

Hey! That's my pontificating pose!



Marilyn

 

[cookieJones]

My recommendation would be for your mom to do a "restore" on the iPad herself, before she turns it in to Best Buy. A restore puts on a brand new iOS and the iPad will be as if it cam straight out of the box. So, all personal info will definitely be gone. There's nothing left... I say do it herself because, although I am sure Best Buy has a good employee, I would be nervous if I handed over my iPad, with its personal data, without taking steps myself to make sure the data is gone. Of course, and as always, YMMV. Marilyn

Thank you very much Marilyn, i will defnitely do the reset first.

 

[jmbarker]

Yes, do it yourself. Safer and easy enough to do.