What Is The Best Way To Delete Your Data
Removing data from a hard drive, permanently, is something that sounds an awful lot simpler than it proves to be in reality. As we all know deleting a file does not remove the file or its content from the hard drive permanently, data recovery companies can normally aid in the recovery of such files, no doubt other less scrupulous individuals are equally capable of such recovery feats.
So what lengths do we need to go to in order to ensure that our data is securely removed?
To put it simply there is no safe and easy way of ensuring that data is permanently eradicated from a hard disk or any other form of storage medium in reality. That doesn’t mean however that it can’t be done.
In order to completely erase data on a drive it is best to overwrite the original several times but not necessarily using the same methodology on each rewrite. Using a method that involves numerous passes over the data either using specialist software or with a manual process that adheres to recognized data erasure standards will under most circumstances guarantee that the data has been successfully erased.
There are many companies that can provide such data elimination services, and there are also a number of software applications that can serve the process including Evidence Eliminator, M-Sweep Pro Data Eliminatior and R-Wipe software from the company behind R-Studio Data Recovery Software.
Apart from software and manual deletion there are more robust methods of data disposal which is commonly know as data destruction. This involves the complete destruction of the disks to the point where recovery would be impossible.
While it would not be recommended DIY data destruction is an option you could try but this would mean that you would need to totally dismantle the drive, remove the platters and physically damaging as much of the disk as possible including destroying (shattering ) the disk as well.
There will always be those that are less educated in the filed of data recovery that will have you believe that simply formatting your drive or even conducting a low level format will do the trick. Sadly this is simply not the case. Another common myth is that reinstalling the operating system will suffice but that will remain the myth that it is.
Not all data will needs to be totally destroyed using the above methods and if you are happy that none of your data is personal or sensitive (both business or personal) then simply dispose of it in an environmentally responsibly way, but if you are at all unsure don’t take the risk.
Your local data recovery company will be able to advise you on safe hard drive recovery data disposal methods and will probably have a local service. data recovery and data disposal should always be left to professional operators who are happy to certify their work.