"UMD Researchers Uncover Privacy Risks in Cell Phones Purchased at Police Auctions"
Law enforcement agencies regularly sell items confiscated in criminal investigations or unclaimed from lost-and-found inventories. Many of these items, including cars, jewelry, watches, and devices such as mobile phones, end up on online auction sites. People searching for a bargain can bid on cell phones in bulk, picking up dozens at low prices. However, according to a recent study conducted by security researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD), many phones sold at police property auction houses are not adequately wiped of personal data. The study, which lasted over two years and involved cell phones purchased from the largest police auction house in the US, led to the discovery of troves of personal information from previous owners that was freely accessible. The UMD team successfully bid on 228 phones, 61 (27 percent) of which contained personal data such as Social Security numbers, credit card information, banking information, passport data, driver's license photos, and more. This article continues to discuss the UMD team's discovery of privacy risks in cell phones purchased at police auctions.