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Two-Thirds of Second-Hand Memory Cards Contain Data From Previous Owners (bleepingcomputer.com)
Catalin Cimpanu, writing for BleepingComputer: A recent study conducted by academics from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK has revealed that almost two-thirds of second-hand memory cards still contain remnants of personal data from previous owners. For their study, researchers analyzed 100 second-hand SD and micro SD memory cards purchased from eBay, conventional auctions, second-hand shops, and other sources over a four-month period. All in all, researchers say the memory cards they recovered were previously used in smartphones and tablets, but some cards were also used cameras, SatNav systems, and even drones. The research team says the analysis process consisted of creating a bit-by-bit image of the card and then using freely available software to see if they could recover any data from the card. Their efforts were successful and worrisome at the same time, as the team says it managed to recover data from the memory cards, including intimate photos, selfies, passport copies, contact lists, navigation files, pornography, resumes, browsing history, identification numbers, and other personal documents.
Who proposes such a study and then who approves it?
According to TFA, a company, Comparitech.com, commissioned the study.
Are these the kind of studies Universities should be pursuing?
This wasn't a vast team of world-class researchers. It was likely one undergrad on academic probation working for class credit, sitting at a desk with a small pile of cards, plugging each one into the slot and pushing a button. Total cost: about $200 to buy the cards.
I could not find the link to the actual report in the summary or the linked article (unless I missed it). But some googling located it.
https://cdn.comparitech.com/static/docs/survey-data-remaining-second-hand-memory-cards-uk.pdf
It is linked in the story of the company that commissioned the research in the first place: https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/secondhand-memory-card-study/