Before You Hand Down That Old Phone, Make Sure You're Not Giving Away Your Personal Information
PR Newswire•22/10/2026•09:06 ET
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Key Highlights
- ➤Mercury Insurance (MCY) urges five cybersecurity steps before transferring used electronics
- ➤Factory-reset devices to erase personal data before changing ownership
- ➤Old devices may expose passwords, financial information and sensitive account access
- ➤Unsupported devices remain vulnerable to emerging threats despite being reset
Expert Statements
Dustin Howard, Head of Information Security at Mercury Insurance
“Most people think about protecting their information while they're using a device, but they don't always consider what happens to that information when they're finished with it.”
Dustin Howard, Head of Information Security at Mercury Insurance
“An old phone or laptop can hold years of personal information, and simply deleting a few files or applications doesn't mean that information is gone. And always factory reset your device.”
Dustin Howard, Head of Information Security at Mercury Insurance
“Passing along electronics is a great way to save money and get more use out of technology, especially when families are upgrading multiple devices.”
Dustin Howard, Head of Information Security at Mercury Insurance
“The important thing is making sure the next person receives a clean device, not access to your digital life. Taking the time to properly prepare electronics for their next owner is a simple habit that can help prevent much bigger problems.”
Before You Hand Down That Old Phone, Make Sure You're Not Giving Away Your Personal Information PR Newswire
Mercury Insurance shares five cybersecurity steps families should take before passing along used electronics
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