If your computer has failed you and you're wanting to re-install your operating system OR you want to do a "clean install" of a new operating system (like Windows 7) OR you're getting rid of an older computer, then you will need to remove all the old data from your current hard drive. Removal of all the previous data ensures that there is no opportunity for identity theft from easily accessed "old" information. There are many programs that can do this, but one of the best and easiest is Darik's Boot and Nuke, a freeware program that is available online for download. DBAN, as it is called, can safely and completely overwrite a hard drive using the same data destruction techniques as the RCMP, for example. There are many tutorials online with instructions on how to do this. (Note- Be sure that you don't have any data on any connected hard disks that you want to recover because DBAN will delete all the drives it detects.)
If you don't feel comfortable using this program after reading all the "on-line" info, the next best thing is simple to remove the hard drive and destroy it manually. This, of course, means that you will have to acquire a new hard drive for your computer.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
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Hello,
I wanted to send an email about a possible tool to use for complete data erasure. WhiteCanyon is the maker of WipeDrive, SystemSaver, SecureClean and many other software suites for data erasure as well as protecting information from falling into the wrong hands during recycling and repurposing. Please direct follow up emails to Marketing@whitecanyon.com . Thank you for your time. Perhaps there is the possibility to write a new article about data destruction about our software.
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