Completely Erasing Data

SimonTW

SimonTW

SimonTW

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Joined
23 May 2006
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720
So, we are getting rid of a very old computer of ours, but before we do the hard drive needs wiping. I am aware that simply formatting a hard drive still leaves most of the data retrievable. I have read that wiping the disk is the best way (given my time and money constrictions) of ensuring any data on the HD has been removed. However, which software do I use to do this? There seem to be many options, but the internet has taught me to be wary of random software.

Therefore I come to you OcUK, to ask you which software/programs you recommend for complete disk wiping?

Thanks, Simon.
 
I'll stick a vote in for DBAN too. We use it at work. The only bad thing about stuff like this is the time it takes for a secure wipe.

We have to use the 35 sweep high security wipe which takes 10 hours on a 40GB HDD!!

Still, if you want to be safe :)
 
I was looking recently for a program that securely wipes the free space on a drive, as to prevent previously deleted data to be recovered.

Could anybody recommend an app for that?
 
MotherMayI said:
I was looking recently for a program that securely wipes the free space on a drive, as to prevent previously deleted data to be recovered.

Could anybody recommend an app for that?
Click to expand...

There's an app on sourceforge called eraser that does this and more (deleting empty file tips of in use blocks).

As for the original poster, this http://gizmodo.com/386216/hard-drive-crusher-how-much-would-you-spend-to-secure-your-data is the only real way to prevent people getting at your bits. Either that, or a hd degausser will do the trick.
 
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