An important, and not always understood aspect of computers, is that, following a system reboot or full system restore, your hard drive does not completely erase. It can still be easily read and all details accessed by those who have the software to do it.

Computer Disposal

So, you have a computer for sale, or does not work anymore, and you want to upgrade to a new machine…Before you do so, consider this…

The BBC  did a feature where they contacted a man, telling they knew all about him, his employment records, his children, address, bank account number ect, and they made an appointment with him to tell him exactly they got this information; From a high street shop in  the Nigerian capital!

What the man did was simply thew his old PC on the scrap heap, because it no longer worked. BUT a person unknown must have recovered it, took out the hard drive, and, presumably with other hard drives, exported them to Nigeria, a scammers paradise, where these are imported by the thousand. Hard drives sell for about £10 there in shops.

After buying one such hard drive, the BBC agents were easily able to extract data from it, using software. So, how best to get around the problem and protect your personal details?

Software To Erase Data

You can obtain software yourself, which completely erases hard drive data by clicking here. Make SURE you have backed up all data first though!

The Need To Recycle

The other alternative is to have your old computer recycled, if it no longer works or you do not wish to sell it on. If you deal with Dell, for example, they will arrange for any old computer equipment to be collected, and professionally dismantled and disposed of. If you are a Dell customer, they will offer this service free of charge.

I still have all my computers, and this one is my third. In the next six months or so I will hopefully upgrade it, and recycling will be my choice.