I want to completely wipe my mobile phone so that no personal data of any kind can be retrieved from it before I give it charity.
Joe Mercer
Most if not all mobiles have an option to reset the phone to its factory preset condition, which effectively makes your data disappear. This is often known as a "hard reset". The option can be a menu item, so look in the settings for Clear or Factory Reset or something along those lines. In some cases, there is a reset code, such as *#7370# for a Nokia N95. The instructions should be in the manual, or if not, you may be able to find them online.
The ReCellular website provides instructions for a large number of phones, though you have to provide registration details including an email address. ReCellular is a US company that buys, sells and recycles mobiles, and I can't guarantee its instructions will work on all UK phones. Otherwise, one of your network's mobile phone shops should have the answer.
Make sure that you have manually removed any email accounts and deactivated the phone before you wipe it. Some services can helpfully "refresh" the missing data from their servers. Also, remove memory cards etc.
Note that forensic software and services companies may be able to recover data from a phone that has been reset or wiped. If a phone has contained extremely sensitive data that could justify the cost of trying to recover it, then the safest option is to shred it. If you are buying a new phone, think about choosing one that can be wiped remotely and/or install security software that will encrypt and protect your data right from the start.
