Before you go, make sure your data is backed up as part of a 3-2-1 backup plan, in which you retain three copies of your data on two different types of media, one of which is off-site. The first copy you have is the one on your computer. Your backup can be stored on an external hard drive or other external media. The third duplicate should be stored in an off-site location, such as the cloud. If you aren’t already backing up your data to an off-site location, now is a wonderful moment to start. Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 provide simple applications for creating a local backup on an external hard drive. You may migrate your information to a new machine or have a local backup for safekeeping. If you want to be sure with your hard drive erasure, some developers claim that the only method to delete the data on an external storage device completely is to smash it with a hammer. Unless you want to get rid of it anyhow, this is a bit excessive. However, because formatting the device isn’t a fail-safe solution, employing third-party software may provide you with a greater piece of mind. One significant advantage is that you often have more control over what is wiped and how it is erased.
- Swipe Of Data
Many programmes will give you some control over how data is erased. The approach you chose will most likely be determined by practicality and the sensitivity of the data. A one-pass approach, for example, may potentially leave recoverable data behind and would not be sufficient for ultra-sensitive data. A 35-pass approach, on the other hand, may take hours or even days but may be desired for top-secret material.
- Erasure Of Hard Drive
Hard Drive Erasure is usually as simple as reformatting the drive and reinstalling Windows using the Reset option. If you’re discarding, giving, or selling your computer, the Reset feature makes it impossible for someone to recover your data, especially if it’s encrypted. This is simple to perform in Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 for HDD or an SSD.
Secure Erase Using Third-Party Tools: If Reset does not entirely reassure you that your data cannot be recovered, or if you have a PC running Windows 7 or older, you have another alternative. There is a lot of decent third-party software available for safely erasing your drive, which we’ll discuss further below. These vary based on whether you have a hard drive or an SSD.
There are various ways for safely deleting external storage devices, but your operating system will greatly influence your decision. Many suppliers provide versions for both macOS and Windows, while some are exclusively appropriate for others. There are also a few choices that work with Android smartphones, but none for iOS users.