The Wychwood Online Club
In association with Oxfordshire Rural Broadband
In association with Oxfordshire Rural Broadband
Copyright © ORB 2009
Get the answers to those questions you've always wanted to know but never got round to asking
Q
How do I protect my files if I dispose of my computer
A
When you delete files on your computer all that really happens is that the operating system is then allow to over write them. In the meantime the information is in fact still there and can be retrieved quite easily
If you are disposing of your computer then either remove the hard disc and separately destroy it or use a cleaning program to destroy all the information on the disc. Remember that if you want the clean machine to then be usable, you will need to create a new 'boot disc' or have the Windows original discs available as Windows will also be removed from the hard disc.
Some programs that can clean your disc.
WARNING: THESE PROGRAMS REMOVE ALL DATA FROM YOUR HDD. PLEASE MAKE EXTRA SURE YOU CAN AFFORD TO LOSE THE DISK THE SAME AS IF YOU SMASHED IT. DATA WILL BE TOTALLY UNRECOVERABLE.
Darik's Boot and Nuke
Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot floppy that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.
DBAN is a means of ensuring due diligence in computer recycling, a way of preventing identity theft if you want to sell a computer, and a good way to totally clean a Microsoft Windows installation of viruses and spyware. DBAN prevents or thoroughly hinders all known techniques of hard disk forensic analysis.
Active@ KillDisk - Hard Drive Eraser