How to Securely Wipe Your Hard Drive |
Posted: November 16, 2019 |
At some point, you might want to donate or recycle your old computer gear. When that time comes, you might want to consider wiping your hard drive. It includes clearing all your personal information. You might think that it will be easy, but you will be surprised to find out that your old devices probably store a ton of information. It could have your medical records, bank statements, browser history, past emails, and other information that accumulates on your device over time. Some people think that deleting old files is merely enough. However, that's not the case. That information can be retrieved from your computer's hard drive unless you wipe it correctly. If you don't follow the right procedure to wipe a hard drive, the files will be there for the taking. Anyone who owns recovery software with bad intentions can easily access your information and sabotage your privacy and security. So how can you securely wipe your hard drive? Back up all the data in your hard-drive Before wiping your computer's hard drive or doing a factory set, all your information is backed up to your new computer, external hard drive, or even a reliable web service. Cloud backs are another excellent option for storing data. It's convenient and safe as well. If you are using the cloud to back up your data, you should create an account, then complete the initial setup. After that, initiate cloud data storage. Usually, the backed up data won't have a physical location, and the files will be encrypted. As such, you won't have to worry about cyber criminals accessing or stealing your information. Don't just delete files casually Sometimes people often think that moving documents to the trash or recycle bin then emptying it is enough, but it's not. This appears to delete the files, but in reality, they are left where they were just not visible this time. With a data recovery program, those files can easily be retrieved. You will only have hidden the data, so deleting alone is not sufficient. Use software to wipe the drive Make sure you use software programs for permanently erasing your hard drive. With this method, there's hardly any chance of getting your data back. Likewise, no one can use data recovery software to get your files. The use of the software is an excellent way to wipe your data without leaving any traces. Wipe your hard drive physically After wiping your hard drive and you are not convinced yet you can take additional measures. You can choose to physically wipe the drive by taking a rear earth magnet to it. You can also choose to dismantle it with a screwdriver physically. The digital and real-world is slowly becoming the same thing. With it comes cybercrimes, and anyone can be a victim of the same. As such, it has become increasingly necessary to wipe your drive thoroughly so that no one else can gain access to your private information. The value of your data cannot be understated. Therefore, if you are done with your computer or need to give it to a friend or relative, ensure you wipe your hard drive.
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