[Question] What is left on Android Jellybean After Factory Reset?

[davros01]

Hello!

I would like to know how long an Android Phone running Jellybean 4.2 with only 512mb of Ram keeps a history log file etc of internet use. It is rooted with Super Su and I could use Root Browser.

I am getting rid of the old phone. I had it encrpyted and I have done the factory reset. I know there is a log file and history of pages visited and cache.

So if I went into the web browser on the phone and removed one selected item from the history, would it have removed it from the history / dat log file that could be recovered?

What data would remain that someone could recover with a recovery tool?

Would the data be over written constantly as the phone often stalled or ran out of memory and would not let me update anything or install new apps as there was no room.

So surely all that would over write the data many times so it could not be recovered by anyone with hacking snooping software after I sell the phone?

And does the log have a time and date attached to all apps installed and all web pages visited?

Lastly the Wi Fi Hotspots that I sometimes used has Net Stats data that I could delete as I wanted. I deleted the last data useage, and then factory reset the phone. Could any of that data be recovered at all? After I deleted it, then did more thus overwriting the old, then deleting it again, before finally wiping it / Factory Reset.

This is driving me mad so any or all help would be great!

I am asking because my Bank details are on there and I used internet banking app. My account has had some fraudulent activity on it so I am trashing the phone, and have just bought a new more secure one and will not be using banking on it again.

I want to sell the old phone safely, so please can someone help with any of these questions as it is important to me.

Quick Edit.

I cant believe no one can help with this. I did some testing with Google Chrome. I installed chrome on my pc, did some searches and went to some sites. I checked the History and they were there. I checked the History LOG and they were there. I then removed some of them and checked again .They had gone from the log, so that might help someone on here.

QUESTION

What browser was on Jellybean 4.2? Was it an early version of chrome that behaved the same way? Someone on here must know or be able to point me to some info somewhere....

Thanks!

[MegaManX]

Be patient. Someone will answer you.

Everything is wiped when you do a factory reset. Cache and all. The only thing that sometimes isn't wiped is user media partition, for example downloads, pictures, videos. You should easily be able to see this by booting the phone and checking gallery.

Nobody in their right mind will go through the effort to dissect your EMMC and try to recover formatted data.

Unless the FBI or CIA is trailing you, you'll be fine. If you're that paranoid, just change your banking password. Done.

[davros01]

Be patient. Someone will answer you.

Everything is wiped when you do a factory reset. Cache and all. The only thing that sometimes isn't wiped is user media partition, for example downloads, pictures, videos. You should easily be able to see this by booting the phone and checking gallery.

Nobody in their right mind will go through the effort to dissect your EMMC and try to recover formatted data.

Unless the FBI or CIA is trailing you, you'll be fine. If you're that paranoid, just change your banking password. Done.

Thanks

I just wanted some info today that was why I was impatient as I might have a buyer for the phone this week.

I have just read so many horror stories about people selling their old phones and getting details stolen etc, coupled with what has gone on with my bank.

Is it right that when the phone is factory reset, the data is still there and just set up to be overwritten, like when emptying a pc recycle bin?

Because if that is the case my internet history, cache of sites I visited, and bank details and wifi hotspot password / setup / stats could still then be recovered?

I have the phone rooted so someone could go into it with root browser or plug it into a pc and recover some of the history, app history etc?

I ask this because after the problems I have had with the phone I am a bit paranoid and also, do not be too sure what people will do, if someone is a bit tech savy and sees a second hand phone on ebay that could have data recovered for devious ends, I would not put it past them to try.

If I cant get any positive answers one way or another I just wont bother selling the phone on, but I could do with the money, as my new phone was expensive and it would help to cover it.

Thanks for the help by the by.....

[modestMouse]

No one can tell you your phone is 100% absolutely unrecoverable. Unless it's been written over 13 times, any data that's been written can be recovered by someone determined enough to do so.

The chances of a random buyer doing this are far less than you getting in a fatal accident on the way to buy milk.

If you truly have some extremely critical information you wouldn't trust to 1 in 1,000,000, then set the EMMC aflame and stop worrying.