It happens two or three times a year. I get this question: I am about to get rid of my old computer, how can I safely erase the hard drive to protect my information? Today that question came from my Sister in Law Christine. Here was my answer:
This is an age old question. Short of taking the hard drive apart and shredding the magnetic disks inside, there is nothing you can do to prevent someone with the right tools and knowledge from recovering your files.
That said, there are a few things you can do to at least slow them down. #1 format the disk using a windows CD. This is enough to prevent the average person from recovering any info off the hard drive. #2 If you want more protection you can use an “eraser” program. Here is a free one. This should be enough to keep everyone out with the exception of maybe the CIA.
Besides safely erasing a whole hard drive, eraser can also safely erase selected files. Like those 150 porn images you “accidentally” downloaded. >wink wink<
Christine also reminded me, Knoxville has a computer recycling program. Certainly worth the little extra effort.
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