Data Safety & Security

How we protect your personal information and securely wipe devices

Your Data Security is Our Priority

At WeBuyGoods.co.uk, we understand that data security is a significant concern when selling electronic devices. We take comprehensive measures to ensure that all personal data is protected throughout our buying process, from securing your customer information to thoroughly wiping every device we receive.

Our Commitment: We maintain the highest standards of data security and follow industry best practices to protect your personal information and ensure all data is completely removed from devices we purchase.

Customer Data Protection Device Data Wiping Security Standards Before You Sell Data Security FAQs

Customer Data Protection

When you interact with our website and services, we implement robust measures to protect the personal information you share with us.

Secure Transactions

Our website uses SSL encryption to secure all data transmission, ensuring that your personal and payment information remains protected when you use our online services.

Protected Storage

All customer information is stored in secure, encrypted databases with strict access controls, limiting data access to only authorized personnel who need it to provide our services.

Identity Verification

We implement identity verification procedures for high-value transactions to prevent fraud and ensure the legitimate ownership of devices we purchase.

For complete details on how we handle your personal information, including what we collect and your rights regarding your data, please review our Privacy Policy.

Device Data Wiping Process

Every device we receive undergoes a comprehensive data wiping process to ensure that all personal information is permanently removed before refurbishment or recycling. Our multi-stage data removal process ensures complete data security.

1

Initial Assessment

When a device arrives at our facility, we first:

  • Check for any remaining memory cards, SIM cards, or removable storage
  • Verify that there are no security locks that would prevent complete wiping
  • Document the device condition and specifications

If any personal storage media is found (like SD cards), these are either returned to you or securely destroyed according to your preference.

2

Primary Data Wiping

We use device-specific methods to perform the initial data wipe:

  • Smartphones and Tablets: Full factory reset following manufacturer protocols
  • Laptops and Computers: Secure disk wiping using certified software
  • Hard Drives: Multiple-pass overwriting
  • SSDs and Flash Storage: Secure ATA erase commands and firmware-based wiping

Note: While we strongly recommend that customers perform their own factory reset before sending devices to us, we still conduct our thorough data-wiping process regardless of whether a reset has already been performed.

3

Secondary Verification

After the primary wipe, we conduct a secondary check to ensure all data has been removed:

  • Verification that all user accounts have been removed
  • Confirmation that the device has been restored to factory settings
  • For computers and hard drives, sampling verification to ensure complete data removal
  • Check for any hidden partitions or unexpectedly preserved data
4

Final Processing

Once data wiping is complete:

  • Working devices are prepared for refurbishment with fresh operating system installations
  • Non-working devices are processed for parts recovery or recycling

Security Assurance: Our data wiping process meets or exceeds the standards required by the UK GDPR and other relevant data protection regulations. This ensures that no personal information remains on devices after processing.

Data Wiping Methods by Device Type

We use different secure wiping methods depending on the device type to ensure complete data removal:

Device Type Data Wiping Method Security Level
iPhones & iPads Apple factory reset + account removal + third-party verification Very High
Android Devices Factory reset + secure erase + account removal Very High
Windows Laptops Multi-pass secure erase software with DoD 5220.22-M standard Very High
Mac Computers Apple Disk Utility secure erase + firmware reset Very High
Hard Drives (HDD) 7-pass overwrite using industry-standard wiping software Very High
Solid State Drives (SSD) Secure ATA erase commands + firmware-level wipe Very High
Game Consoles Factory reset + account removal + storage wiping High
Smart Watches Unpair + factory reset + account removal High

Security Standards & Compliance

We adhere to strict security standards and regulations to ensure the protection of personal data:

UK GDPR Compliance

We fully comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation requirements for secure data handling, storage, and processing. This includes regular compliance reviews and staff training.

WEEE Directive

We follow the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive for proper recycling and disposal of electronic devices, ensuring environmentally responsible processing.

Industry Best Practices

Our data wiping protocols follow industry best practices established by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and other security authorities.

We continuously update our security practices to align with evolving industry standards and technological advancements, ensuring that our data protection measures remain effective against new security challenges.

Before You Sell: Data Protection Checklist

While we perform thorough data wiping on all devices we receive, we strongly recommend taking these steps before sending your device to us:

1

Back Up Your Data

Before performing any reset or data wiping:

  • Save important photos, videos, and files to cloud storage or an external device
  • Export contacts, messages, and important app data
  • Verify that your backups are complete and accessible
  • Note down any settings or configurations you'll want to restore on a new device
2

Sign Out of Accounts

Make sure to sign out of all accounts and services:

  • Apple devices: Sign out of iCloud and iTunes
  • Android devices: Remove Google accounts
  • Computers: Sign out of browser accounts, email clients, and cloud services
  • All devices: Sign out of social media, messaging apps, and other personal accounts
3

Remove Security Features

Disable security features that could prevent data wiping:

  • Apple devices: Turn off Find My iPhone/iPad/Mac
  • Android devices: Disable Find My Device and any Samsung/manufacturer accounts
  • Windows computers: Disable BitLocker or other disk encryption
  • All devices: Remove screen locks, PINs, patterns, and biometric security

Important: We cannot process devices with active security locks or accounts. These must be removed before we can complete the purchase.

4

Perform a Factory Reset

Reset your device to factory settings:

  • iPhone/iPad: Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings
  • Android: Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset)
  • Windows: Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC
  • Mac: Apple menu > Restart > hold Command+R > Disk Utility > Erase > macOS Reinstall
5

Remove Storage Media

Check for and remove any personal storage media:

  • SIM cards
  • SD or microSD cards
  • External storage devices
  • USB drives or dongles

Double Protection: By taking these steps before sending your device to us, you create a double layer of data protection. Even though we will perform our own thorough data wiping process, your pre-emptive actions provide additional peace of mind.

Data Security FAQs

Can data really be permanently deleted from devices?

Yes, when proper techniques are used, data can be permanently and irrecoverably deleted from devices. Our multi-stage wiping process ensures that data is overwritten in ways that make recovery impossible, even with advanced forensic tools.

For traditional hard drives (HDDs), we use multiple-pass overwriting techniques. For solid-state drives (SSDs) and mobile devices, we employ specialized methods that work with their unique storage architecture, including secure ATA commands and firmware-level wiping.

What if I forget to sign out of accounts or remove personal data?

While we strongly recommend removing accounts and personal data before sending your device, our data wiping process will still permanently remove all data from your device. During our initial assessment, we check for any active accounts and ensure they are removed as part of our process.

However, please note that for devices with activation locks (like iCloud Lock or Google Account lock), we will need to contact you to have these removed before we can complete the purchase, as these security features prevent us from fully wiping and repurposing the device.

How do you handle devices with sensitive business or enterprise data?

For businesses or individuals selling devices that contained sensitive corporate information, we offer enhanced data security services:

  • Documented chain of custody for devices
  • Higher-security wiping protocols with additional verification stages
  • Detailed data destruction certificates for compliance purposes
  • Optional on-site wiping for large batches or highly sensitive data

Please contact us directly to discuss your specific requirements for devices containing sensitive business data.

What happens to devices that can't be wiped due to damage?

In cases where a device is too damaged to power on or access through normal means, we take extra security precautions:

  • For devices with inaccessible storage due to damage, we physically remove the storage components
  • Storage components are then either securely wiped using specialized equipment or physically destroyed
  • For completely non-functional storage, we use physical destruction methods that ensure data cannot be recovered

This approach ensures that even data from severely damaged devices cannot be compromised.

How do you protect customer information during the buying process?

Throughout our buying process, we protect your personal information through several security measures:

  • Secure, encrypted website connections (SSL/TLS)
  • Encrypted storage of all customer data
  • Strict access controls limiting who can view your information
  • Secure payment processing compliant with financial industry standards
  • Regular security audits and testing
  • Staff training on data protection and privacy

For more details on how we handle your personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

Our Data Security Promise

At WeBuyGoods.co.uk, we're committed to maintaining the highest standards of data security. Our promise to you includes:

  • Complete Data Removal – Thorough wiping of all devices using industry-standard methods
  • Personal Information Protection – Secure handling of all customer data throughout our process
  • Transparent Practices – Clear information about our data security measures
  • Continuous Improvement – Regular updates to our security protocols to address emerging threats
  • Regulatory Compliance – Adherence to all relevant data protection regulations

Trust & Confidence: We understand that trusting us with your devices means trusting us with your data security. We take this responsibility seriously and work diligently to maintain your confidence through rigorous security practices and transparent operations.

Ready to Sell With Confidence?

Now that you know how we protect your data, you can sell your devices with complete peace of mind.

Get a Quote Today

Have more questions about our data security practices? Contact us – we're happy to provide additional information.