When you intend to sell, donate, reallocate, or discard the item, all data storage components, such as hard discs and SSDs in laptops, desktop computers, or Macs, should be erased. While some people believe that simply deleting or formatting a device will remove all of their data and leave it clean, this is a misconception. The many methods of erasing data from hard drives and SSDs will be explained in this article, along with the proper techniques for performing secure drive erasure that leaves no trace.
You would want to keep it safe if your hard drive, SSD, or any other device contained private, sensitive, or confidential information. You must sterilise the storage device to make sure that your data is safe when your device is turned off. You can make your sensitive data impossible to recover using forensic techniques or even freely available DIY data recovery software by properly cleaning the device.
In order to determine the most secure technique to wipe hard drives and wipe SSDs, let’s examine various methods used to wipe-clean a device and weigh their advantages and disadvantages.
Formatting
When a computer is formatted, the storage partition table is erased and the data in the file system is delinked. The file system is re-indexed in preparation for drive reuse. Although it appears to the user that the data has vanished because it is no longer visible, the information actually remains in the media. Cybercriminals may be able to access your data from the drive you formatted by using a free DIY data recovery tool. The outcome? You could have your privacy violated when you are unaware of data vulnerability.
For deleting the hard disc via formatting, you may follow the procedures as per the System you use. On a Windows computer, for instance, you can right-click on the disc you wish to format, choose “Format,” and then click the “My Computer” icon on your desktop.
Using the Delete Key
The simplest approach to see some extra storage space on your device is to simply press the ‘Delete’ key, which is the good old technique of getting rid of everything. By just removing the connection between the data and your operating system, deletion renders the data invisible and untraceable to anybody except you. Yet, the information remains on the drive even if you clear your Recycling bin. Also, free data recovery software makes it simple to recover it. Deleting may be effective if you need to free up space, but it won’t protect your data if you’re giving your laptop or Computer away, selling it, or donating it. Hence, erasing is not a secure method of wiping your hard drive because data can still be recovered even after it has been deleted.
Destruction of the Device Physically
In some cases, physically destroying the storage device is another option for erasing sensitive data and protecting it from prying eyes. There are several ways to physically destroy a hard drive or SDD, including using a shredder, lighting the drive on fire, hammering it down, etc.
Degaussing
Degaussing is a demagnetizing procedure used to erase data from magnetic storage devices including backup tapes, audio CDs, and hard drives. Degaussers are tools that interfere with a device’s magnetic field, rendering it useless and erasing all data inside. It is an old technique that is losing effectiveness as non-magnetic storage systems (like flash-based storage like SSD) and items with strong magnetic fields become more prevalent. You can read our post on the degaussers’ limitations for SSDs.
Erase Hard Drives Discreetly
In order to make the sensitive data unrecoverable, securely wiping the hard disc entails overwriting the existing data with a succession of 0s and 1s or pseudo-random characters. Using a software solution with verification and a proof of erasure certificate generator, it can be done quickly on-site or off-site.
Conclusion
The methods for wiping hard drives and SSDs have now been covered in full. You can choose from any of the data wiping options listed above based on your requirement to erase SSD and other drives, maintain privacy and data security, lean towards eco-friendly practises, and how crucial it is for you to make the data irretrievable. Just keep in mind to balance the benefits and drawbacks of each data deletion technique before proceeding.
Nonetheless, our professionals advise using data erasure software to completely sanitise all of your devices, whether on- and off-premise. One such dependable do-it-yourself tool for wiping SSDs and hard drives is called Bitraser. The software has numerous built-in benefits, including the capacity to create automated evidence of data destruction, integrate with the cloud to keep track of reports and certifications, and be scaled and managed easily. Of course, BitRaser is a NIST-tested and compliant programme that aids in securely wiping SSDs and hard drives.