It might not be the most environmentally friendly option, but taking a hammer to a hard drive can be a therapeutic and effective way of destroying data. Don’t forget to apply the process across your entire computer, including the Recycle Bin. By default, the program is set to overwrite data 35 times, which can take several hours on a large hard drive.īeware: once deleted, there is no recovering your data. Right-click on a file or folder, then click on Eraser for the option to Erase data completely. Click to run and install this.Įraser will now be a piece of software on your computer - it's simplicity itself to use. To install it, head to the Eraser download site and click on the latest file name under the Build name list. The program works within Windows, and should be used to target your folders where you keep files, photos and documents.

There are numerous tools for performing a data deep clean, such as Eraser. These programs don't just delete data - they overwrite it multiple times to erase all trace, making it almost impossible for anyone to retrieve it. In order to really eradicate data you need to use data-shredding software. Simply deleting a file from your hard drive doesn't mean it's no longer there – it just means the computer doesn't know where to go and look for it.Ī forensic expert, digital criminal or any ne’er-do-well with the right equipment could easily access every single detail even from deleted hard drives that look empty to the untrained eye.Įven if you're only passing an old laptop on to a relative, it's still worth taking precautions, in case they don't wipe the machine when they upgrade. Data recovery software is simple to use, after all.ĭispose of your computer responsibly with our guide to recycling an old computer This presents a real risk of personal information falling into the wrong hands. Yet every year thousands of hard drives end up undeleted on the scrapheap or sold second-hand.

Our computers and mobile phones contain all manner of personal data, from documents featuring details of your date of birth and address to financial records and family photos. Follow our step-by step guide to make sure your data is gone If you're getting rid of an old device, it's important to securely wipe your data from it first.

Erase hard drive