If you are planning on passing on your PC to a new owner or even just recycling it, then you might have tried to erase your personal information from the drive by deleting folders or files. If this is the case, then be aware that more needs to be done to protect your personal data. The final step you must take before giving away your computer is to scrub the hard drive, wiping it clean of any remaining data.
Plainly deleting your files is not enough because your files can be restored from the recycle bin or even recovered with the right skills. This is because when you delete a file, your PC does not completely destroy all of the contents. Instead, it is simply marked as deleted whilst it awaits a new file to overwrite it.
If not properly destroyed, your personal information may fall into unwanted hands.
Why is Scrubbing a Hard Drive Necessary?
There is legislation set up that makes it mandatory for organizations, public agencies, banks, and advocates to protect an individual’s personal information.
This personal information may involve someone’s name, driver’s license number, credit card number, and medical history details, but it could be many other things as well.
There are penalties set up for non-compliance with this legislation. As an organization, you must ensure that you comply with this law and safely wipe your hard disks before they get into the hands of someone else. With this in mind, if you are an organization that wishes to give away or recycle some of your computers then you need to ensure it is scrubbed of any data.
The Importance of Scrubbing a Hard Drive
An effortless method a thief can use to steal identities is getting hold of someone’s social security number. This enables access to critical information such as their financial accounts.
One example where a hard drive wipe may also be necessary could be when your computer is faulty so you send it over to the manufacturer to be fixed. Before you do so, you should perform a hard drive wipe. This is because anyone with decent computer knowledge could recover critical data whilst the computer is out of your hands, which may be dangerous.
In another example, a data breach could be expensive for any organization, whether that be losing money or losing the trust of employees and customers.
Most computer devices that contain a hard drive will store a digital image of every document ever scanned or copied. When the device is passed on, sold, or recycled it is the responsibility of the organization to wipe this data. If the organization does not do so then they could be held responsible for any data leaks.
The most commonly known legalization is the New Jersey law which makes companies securely erase any storage device before being returned to the leasing company, sold or recycled.
How to wipe a hard drive with iolo's DriveScrubber?
Looking for a secure hard drive wipe? With the assistance of iolo’s DriveScrubber, your drive can be restored to brand-new condition so that it can be sold or passed on safely and securely.
You can secure your personal information when you sell, donate, or recycle your PC with a reliable hard drive eraser. DriveScrubber works by permanently erasing your hard drive data, exceeding Department of Defense security standards, and ensuring that your private files will never be recovered again.
In addition, the scrubber permanently erases private files, pictures, and documents. It is also capable of restoring your drives to like-new after virus or spyware damage. This is a secure method of wiping your hard drive before you go on to recycle it, sell it, or donate it.
What’s excellent about this piece of technology is that it meets the U.S. Department of Defense’s disk-sanitizing standards.
With this, the scrubber not only wipes your entire hard drive but also scrubs and cleans drives that have been damaged by stubborn spyware and viruses. This makes it safe for the next user, as well as protects your personal information from unwanted eyes.
Some unique features the scrubber offers are:
- Customizable Tools provide alterable security levels for wiping the hard drive, giving you complete control of what gets wiped.
- It offers scalable features like batch-wipe as well as pause, cancel, and resume features.
- DriveScrubber uses the fastest, most optimized wipe methods while maintaining its proven security strength.
With the help of iolo’s DriveScrubber, you can scrub your hard drive in the safest and most efficient way possible.
