tech
Verizon sent man a refurbished phone with MDM, then deleted his data remotely
Failure raises questions about how Verizon prepares refurbished phones for new users.
TL;DR
- Verizon customer Tom Collery received a refurbished phone with an MDM profile, which allowed remote control.
- The device was a store demo unit that was not properly wiped, leading to a remote data erasure.
- Security experts question Verizon's procedures for ensuring refurbished phones are completely reset and data-free.
- Collery lost two years of personal data, including patient information and family videos.
- Verizon admitted the error to the FCC, calling it a "procedural lapse" and claiming the case was "resolved" after offering compensation.
- Collery is pursuing legal action, citing privacy violations under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
- The original network issues that prompted the replacement phone were not resolved.