Risk to Trade-In Non Factory Reset Phone

guy_758

The screen on my 5a does not display anything. I am considering buying a newer pixel and trading this 5a in to google for store credit. Since the screen doesn't work, I am not able to wipe my device data before sending it in. Is there any real risk that google could access my data? Or any risk they would deny my trade-in since I'm not running the stock OS? I believe the answer is no, but wanted to run in by the rest of you. Thanks!

Graphite

guy_758
How much store credit are they offering for a 5a with a bad screen?

guy_758

Graphite $102.5 given I answered "No" to "Is your phone in good condition? Answer yes if it turns on, is free of cracks, and the screen works properly." And "Yes" to "Does the phone turn on?" It's $110 if first answer is "Yes."

Equal2024

Is there any real risk that google could access my data?

If they cared, they could replace the faulty components (if any) on the motherboard and then attempt to brute-force their way in. Google has designed the Titan chip to defend against insider attacks, so even if you have a 6-digit pin, it will be a looong time before they can decrypt the drive: https://github.com/Peter-Easton/GrapheneOS-Knowledge/blob/master/GrapheneOS-Security-Q%26A.md#does-graphene-allow-me-to-nuke-my-data-if-say-the-phone-gets-ten-incorrect-guesses-at-the-pincode

Only someone who knows the PIN code can decrypt the drive, effectively.

guy_758

Equal2024 This is what I was hoping to hear. Thanks!

Blastoidea

I think every trade in offer I have read said “Does it turn on and does the screen work?”

Graphite

guy_758 Answer yes if it turns on, is free of cracks, and the screen works properly."

So what's the offer of you answered No?
$0

They won't pay for this phone.

[deleted]

It's conceivable your phone may get 'notoced' for standing out (GOS) and become a permanent "exhibit" being randomly/continuously poked at.

Would $100 be worth permanent absence of the peace-of-mind? Even if you only used GOS for the sovereignty it affords to regular people? Would you bet on future not having any zero-days/etc.?

guy_758

[deleted] Interesting point.
My guess is that when a phone with a non-functional screen comes in, their first step is to reimage the phone via fastboot (if I have that terminology correct). Would the fact that I'm running GOS be visible at that level?

Phead

guy_758

I have absolutely no idea what Google (and others) does with old and broken devices, but I figured that they salvage them for parts, like REEs, metals and all the other valuable stuff?