The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has issued new guidelines urging users to thoroughly wipe and encrypt their smartphones before selling, donating, or repair to prevent exposure of personal data.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has warned mobile users to take basic privacy precautions before selling, donating or handing over a handset for repair, saying a routine transfer can expose photographs, messages, passwords and account access if the device is not properly cleared. In a post on August 10, the regulator said a simple reset may not be enough because some data can still be recovered with modern software.
PTA’s advice is straightforward: back up important files first, then make sure the phone is encrypted before wiping it. The authority also recommends overwriting the device after a reset by loading some photos or videos and then resetting it again, a step intended to make recovery of deleted data more difficult. Similar guidance from the Federal Trade Commission and the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre also stresses that users should remove accounts and complete a full factory reset before the device leaves their hands.
The regulator also says users should remove their SIM card and any external memory card before handing over the phone. That matters because both can contain contacts, messages and other traces of personal activity, and because the SIM may still connect the device to accounts or services if it is left inside.
PTA’s broader privacy guidance has repeatedly emphasised that personal information should be managed carefully and removed before disposing of devices. The practical message is that anyone selling, gifting or repairing a smartphone should spend a few minutes on preparation rather than risk long-term exposure of private data later.
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