Radiowell says 35% of used two-way radios still held sensitive data

By Atlas Watchline Staff · News · August 9, 2026

Radiowell said a review of more than 300 retired two-way radios found that 35% still contained sensitive information that had not been erased.

Radiowell said on Aug. 9 that a review of more than 300 used two-way radios found 35% still contained sensitive data that had not been erased before resale or recycling.

The company said land mobile radio equipment is used by government agencies, utilities and other organizations that rely on private radio networks for day-to-day and emergency communication. Radiowell said leftover data could expose system settings, network access details and employee names, and could interfere with communications or reveal internal operations.

According to the release, Radiowell examined radios acquired over six months from government surplus auction sites and commercial marketplaces including eBay. It said the residual data found on the devices included system programming, encryption keys, talkgroup and channel assignments, and employee names.

The release also pointed to two examples. In one, Radiowell said a radio resold by an electronics waste recycler in Southern California was used to transmit a false “officer down” call that drew an emergency response, including a police helicopter. In another, it said equipment sold while still programmed disrupted emergency communications in rural Texas and led to a federal investigation and seizure.

Radiowell said the problem often stems from gaps in disposal procedures, including inconsistent life-cycle management and sub-agencies disposing of equipment outside the original agency’s process. Andrew Park, identified as the company’s director of research, said Radiowell receives large lots that are often documented as already wiped, but that on average about 3% of that equipment still held recoverable data.

The company said improper disposal can create financial exposure, criminal misuse, depletion of emergency resources, reputational harm and loss of access to radio networks. It said the same risks can apply to businesses such as for-profit ambulance services and utility companies.

Radiowell recommended a documented disposal process for retiring LMR equipment. It said its service includes verified data-wiping with serial-level tracking and a complete audit chain, and that it assumes legal responsibility for equipment it receives.

The release closed by directing government agencies and businesses to request a consultation at Radiowell’s website.

Sources

• PR Newswire release

Editorial note: This article was prepared with AI assistance and includes source attribution for reader review.

This is the AMP version of the article. Read the full article on Atlas Watchline.