A cracked smartphone, a dead smart speaker, or a glitchy fitness tracker might seem like nothing more than digital junk. But tossing these devices in the trash or even recycling bin could quietly hand cybercriminals the keys to a treasure trove of personal data.
These gadgets are often still loaded with sensitive information — from passwords and financial details to private messages and home network access. Hackers know exactly how to mine discarded tech for data gold. What seems useless to one person can be a jackpot to someone else with malicious intent.
