Find Out What is Wrong With Your Data Sanitization Method
Summary: In this blog, we focus on the general data sanitization methods that people use and their drawbacks. Also, we share the best solution, such as BitRaser File Eraser, which can help you get rid of your confidential data securely without leaving any scope of data recovery.
At some point in time, you may require selling your old computer or discard it altogether. This process usually involves the risk of exposing your confidential information to outsiders or more particularly identity thieves. In order to avoid such disasters, many people tend to follow some untrustworthy measures to get rid of the sensitive and personal data stored on their used hard drives. This unsafe disposal of information could result in revealing your credit card secrets, business assets, and much more.
Some of the common mistakes done to dispose of sensitive data on used storage media devices are given below:
File Deletion
This is much similar to removing the index page from your book. The pages will not be visible to you now (due to index deletion), but they are actually present well intact within your book and can be used to retrieve information as before. Likewise, when you delete a file from your system, its entry in the file allocation table (or Master File Table) is deleted. The contents of the file remain intact on the drive until the space occupied is overwritten by new data.
Reformatting Disk or Deleting Disk Partitions
Reformatting is a means of rebuilding the file system from scratch, i.e. the file allocation table will be recreated. Further, if you delete some partitions, the data on other partitions would be still intact. In either of these cases, you do not perform a safe disposal.
Data Encryption
It is way better than the above methods of data sanitization. However, any type of encryption can be broken by cracking the password or encryption key.
In order to securely dispose of computers and other storage devices, you should use file eraser software. This software completely destroys the sensitive data stored on your hard drive using multiple-pass wipe algorithms. With the help of these utilities, you can wipe off every piece of confidential information, including entire drives, free space, system activity, application traces, etc.
Dear Author,
Is there any slightest of chance of data recovery after using data erasing software?
Hi Amy,
As far as Stellar’s software are concerned, there is no chance of any data recovery, as if once data is gone it’s gone for forever. We further give you the certification of complete data removal after using the software.
Data sanitization can be done with the method which is most secured and don’t create any pollution while working. For me and my company, we decide to use data erasing software for permanent data deletion (earlier we are using physical destruction). Few of the software companies are giving certification for data removal after the data is deleted. It is very helpful for us.
It is absolutely wrong to pollute the environment for our own benefits. In fact, even we are sanitizing old IT components in our office by data shredder machines, just to keep our data safe and out of the hands of the competition. Recently attended a seminar about the need of data erasure software and how it beneficial for our environment. Although we use some other utility, in past, but we definitely want to try it in future.
A recent survey shocked me when I get to know about 40 million tons of E-waste is generated by us every year. By going in this way, very soon we found lots of E-waste around our home, offices, parks, schools etc. Although, being very small, I too contribute to it. This thought gives me to look for some alternate way of data destruction. Software based approach of data erasing is one such method which completely erase all data, out of the scope of data
Since many years, I doing all wrong and creating lots of Electronic waste. As soon as my customer asks data erasure solutions, I quickly recommend shredding method to them. But when I came to know about this reliable and certified data erasure software. The above-mentioned software makes my work easy.
Most of us just want to destroy their sensitive data, by any means. They are totally unaware about pros and cons of various methods. Recently one of my close friends tries to delete his highly confidential official data with the help of a sledgehammer. I inform him about various methods to erase data few of them are environment-friendly. Also, I refer this informative post with him which helps him a lot.
Before reading this article, I am also a contributor to increasing E-waste in our locality which is thus polluting our environment. Being a local computer technician lots of people bring their old PC or hard drives/storage devices for permanent and secure deletion of data. Smashing hard drive with a sledgehammer is the only option with me. Since I get to know about your software, it really makes me and my customers happy. Additionally, the hard drive can be again used for future purposes with better speed and performance.
Due to lack of awareness, many people still considered that deleting, formatting of their data will permanently delete it. But the truth is, it can be recovered by data recovery software. So always secure yourself with eco-friendly data erasing tool which will completely destroy your data and no chance of any data recovery by any means.
Recently, I had formatted my hard drive before handed over to one of my friend in the office. As per my best knowledge, I had deleted all the partitions from the disk drive and happy that data is permanently lost and no data is left. After few days, I heard about a data recovery technique which can recovered data from deleted partitions; after that, I feared that data can be recoverable by this method. So, it was a learning as well as new experience for me that the data destruction can be best done by data erasing software.
I want to add one more point to this list. Usually, people across the globe are seen destroying their disk drive with the help of sledgehammer; a method commonly known as physical destruction. Although this method assures them most, that their sensitive data can’t be fetched back by any means. But, it was considered the most uncultured method of data erasing, as it increased the E-scrap and thus polluting our environment. Alternate to it, they can try data wiping software. I think that this is one of the safest method to wipe your data completely. Thanks for the blog.