Demand for Used Smartphones in Kazakhstan Increases, Experts Warn About Data Security Risks

Demand for used and even non-functional mobile phones has increased significantly in Kazakhstan, with buyers actively purchasing damaged devices as well, according to 31 Channel.

In several cities across the country, vehicles equipped with loudspeakers have been observed urging residents to sell their old and broken mobile phones. Repair shops have also reported a growing number of advertisements for purchasing second-hand devices. Buyers say their main interest lies in extracting components such as motherboards and memory modules.

According to Zhaxylyk Musatayev, a repair specialist with more than 13 years of experience, the second-hand electronics market operates in two main directions. One segment collects old phones to extract valuable metals, including traces of gold, while the other focuses on reusable microchips and motherboards. He noted that sourcing spare parts for many smartphone models has become increasingly difficult and expensive.

Recovered components are later used for repair work or to assemble refurbished devices for resale. Depending on their condition, such phones are valued between 500 and 10,000 tenge.

At the same time, cybersecurity experts are warning about the risks of personal data exposure when selling old devices. Cybersecurity specialist Yevgeny Pitolin emphasized that smartphones contain sensitive information, including access to financial services, documents, and personal data.

He noted that many users mistakenly believe that performing a factory reset permanently deletes all information. In reality, data is not immediately erased from device memory and may still be recoverable using specialized software.

Experts recommend several precautionary measures before selling a phone, including signing out of all accounts, deleting saved passwords, backing up important files, removing the device from linked accounts, disabling the “Find My Device” feature, and performing a factory reset.

According to specialists, these steps significantly reduce the risk of personal data falling into the wrong hands.