What action can be taken to remove personal information from a device?

To effectively remove personal information from a device, performing a factory reset is the most comprehensive approach. This action restores the device to its original settings just as it was when first purchased, erasing all data, including applications, files, and personal information. After a factory reset, the operating system is reinstalled, and all data is typically irretrievable by normal means, making it an effective method for ensuring sensitive information is no longer accessible.

Wiping the cache, while it may clear temporary files and improve performance, does not delete personal data stored on the device. Updating software improves security and functionality, but it does not eliminate any personal information. Deleting individual files can help, but it requires the user to know which files to target, and there is always a risk that some residual data might still be recoverable. Thus, a factory reset is the most secure and thorough option for completely removing personal data from a device.