How to Erase Personal Data on a Computer
by Frank Jovine on 09/30/2009 in Computers
Do you have something to hide? Only kidding, but did you know that even when you delete a file or folder and empty your trash can, the data isn’t gone. Even formatting your hard drive is not sufficient. Deleted files can be undeleted and formatted hard drives can be recovered.
The only way to permanently erase your data is by using an erasing utility. These tools overwrite each sector of the hard drive with 1′s and 0′s also known as binary. There are some erasing utilities that will overwrite each sector multiple times which meet government security standards.
Here are two utilities that can erase your data and maintain your privacy
Eraser – is an advanced security tool for Windows that allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns.
Price: Free
Privacy Eraser Pro 8.0 – supports Microsoft Windows FAT/FAT32/NTFS file systems, completely implements and exceeds the US Department of Defense DOD 5220.22-M and NSA clearing and sanitizing standard.
Price: Free to try (15-day trial); $39.95 to buy
It’s important that you erase all your data if you’re selling or donating your computer.
Michael Aulia
Oct 1st, 2009
Good tools that every business or organization should use, especially if the data is crucial or confidential to the company
Frank J
Oct 2nd, 2009
Michael,
Good point. I know that the company that I once worked for would always use a utility to wipe hard drives before donating the computers to non-profit organizations.
Allen Park Computer Repair
Oct 1st, 2009
I used to use an old software called Wipe and Zap Disk. I think IBM created it. They did such a great job of removing everything. Of course, they would probably not work with the newer drives. Just felt a little nostalgic…