Gone but not forgotten: Pro tips to make sure old computer files stay deleted
January 9, 2012
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Whether in tablet, desktop or laptop form, personal computers rate as one of the most popular gifts during the holidays. As people busy themselves setting up their new computers, they also must decide what to do with their old hardware.
In most cases these soon-to-be-discarded computers contain documents and passwords that could leave the user venerable to personal or financial attacks. Tahere are several options getting rid of the machine, but users must first take care to permanently erase this personal information.
“Even if it’s been deleted in a traditional sense, documents can still be recovered from an old hard drive and potentially fall into the wrong hands,” said Wesley McGrew an associate at Mississippi State University’s National Forensics Training Center. “Personal documents such as email, banking statements and other information can be used to steal your identity or for other malicious purposes.”
He explained that there have been cases of people purchasing old computers or pulling them from the trash for the sole purpose of recovering deleted data. However, there are a few simple steps to protect private information.
First, McGrew stresses the importance of backing-up important information on external disks or hard drives. Then the user must make a decision on what to do with the old machine.
If selling or passing the computer to another user:
• Erase the drives using a tool like Dark’s Boot and Nuke (www.dban.org). When burned to a CD, this free, downloadable program can be run on a computer to completely and irreversibly remove all data, including the operating system.
• Reinstall the original, or purchase a new, operating system.
• Run the system’s update feature to make sure all the latest security patches are installed.
If the machine is destined for the trash or recycling bin, McGrew says the disks can be physically destroyed and safely discarded with the machine—his preferred method of disposal. He recommends removing the hard drives then using a drill, while following proper safety procedures, to render them useless.
McGrew said that it is also important to remember that it is not safe to dispose of old electronics with the regular trash because of the chemicals and materials they contain. Many large, electronics stores have specialized recycling programs for proper disposal.
Visit http://greenergadgets.org/ for more information about proper electronics disposal and to find local recycling programs.