Im finally getting rid of my old PC and I don't trust that it will be properly wiped clean, so im removing the harddrive myself and I was just wondering if I needed to remove any other part of the PC to protect my data?
2006-08-03 04:23:45 · 4 answers · asked by gmason85 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
Leave the hard drive and use the following program. It's what the FBI, CIA and others use to erase there computers before sale.
I would not even consider purchasing a computer without a hard drive.
To Completely Wipe your Hard-drive clean use the following.
Recommended by the University of Harvard Computer Science Division.
"Darik's Boot and Nuke (CDR/CDRW Version) - [2006-03-19 | Freeware | 1.9 Mb | DOS | 7914 | 4.87 ]
Securely wipes the hard disks of most computers."
The direct link is currently at:
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
USE EXTREME CAUTION and label this disk! Only insert in a PC you want to wipe clean of ALL DATA!
NOTE:
Most Hard-drives are shielded from external magnetism so unless you crack open the case and rub an extremely powerful magnet on the disk, that wont do any good. Floppy disks are unshielded and you can erase them with a magnet, but not a shielded Hard-drive.
Re-Formatting your Hard-drive will NOT erase any information. it only clears the FAT File Allocation Table, it does not erase ANY files as most people think.
Give me a hard-drive that has just been formatted and I can get EVERYTHING off it and copy to a NEW drive with NO PROBLEM at all.
2006-08-03 04:30:37 · answer #1 · answered by space_man_stitch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no removing the hard drive is sufficient in making sure that none of your data is reused (thats the only device that data can be physically stored into for long periods)
but may i suggest that you also remove the ram chips from the machine as well, as you may be able to include these chips in your next machine, effectivly upgrading it at the same time
personally i also remove the cd drives from any machine i throw out, as they always come in handy in case of a failure, especially if they are a writer drive or dvd drive
ps dont forget dont just remove the hdd to protect your data, why not simply connect that drive to your new machine as well, for the extra storage space?!
2006-08-03 11:29:25 · answer #2 · answered by paul_heilbron 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, removing and destroying the hard drive is all you need to do to guarantee that your data is safe.
BTW, the previous poster is wrong about the FBI and CIA. The remove and destroy their hard drives with a sledge hammer. I used to work government security. The ONLY government approved method for destruction of classified or sensitive information is complete physical destruction of the media.
2006-08-03 12:01:53 · answer #3 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing to remove.
2006-08-03 11:30:17 · answer #4 · answered by titanium 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋