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How to Wipe Data from Laptop Easily and Securely

author
Published By Raj Kumar
Aswin Vijayan
Approved By Aswin Vijayan
Published On July 13th, 2021
Reading Time 4 Minutes Reading
Category Tips

If you want to sell your old laptop or computer, there are a few things you can do to get started. You can extend the life of your computer by cleaning it, and it will function at a much better level than one would expect for that number of years.

It is feasible to erase data from laptop hard drive before removing it, but you must be cautious to clean all data from laptop or you will face risky catastrophic consequences. This is why it is necessary to learn how to wipe Data from laptop.

Aside from the immediate privacy issues, this isn’t a major matter for individuals, but it might have severe consequences for businesses. When you decide to get rid of a machine, make sure you erase any data associated with the client, employee, or partner. Otherwise, the information might be leaked. And your data might be compromised.

Although data breaches can pose severe difficulties for any company, they are especially problematic for businesses that process sensitive data daily, such as those in finance and health care. Violations of sensitive data in this manner, as well as data protection regulations, can result in severe fines. Therefore, you must always wipe before discarding the hard drive or reselling.

What Is Data Wiping and Why you Should Use it?

Data wiping reduces data to unreadable format but does not delete it. Data wiping, on the other hand, is the act of overwriting data on a hard disc to the point that the original data is impossible to read.

Apart from preserving your company’s data, data wiping also allows you to reuse the original hard drive in the future. Its saves thousands of bucks for you and also an environmentally friendly alternative to physically disposing of the hard drive. That emits harmful chemicals and gases during the process.

Why Should You Destroy a Hard Drive Correctly?

Before we get started, there are a few misconceptions about destroying a hard drive.

Getting your hard drive wet, contrary to common opinion, will not render the files on it worthless. It’s not a toaster or a fan, either. Data is stored in blocks of 1s and 0s on a platter similar to that used in CDs. There are two basic techniques to ensure that no one discovers your secrets: stop the platter from spinning or render the data unreadable.

This can take more (or less) time depending on the type of hard disc you have. Laptop plates, for example, are usually made of glass or ceramic. Because they are fragile, you can easily harm them if you’re not careful. Desktops, on the other hand, generally come with more durable aluminum platters.

This is why you should always approach the professional to wipe data permanently from laptop and you can reuse the drive or sell or donate the hard drive for later use. This will benefit your pocket and environment too.

How to Erase Data from Laptop – (Two Prominent Methods)

#1. Data-Wiping Services

SysTools Data wipe services are used to delete confidential data files saved on hard drives that are no longer recoverable. We delete data in such a way that it cannot be recovered using any device, tool, or software.

It uses various kinds of unique algorithms on each and every block of data leaving no sign of recoverability of wiped data.

You can easily approach a hard disk wiping service. Choose an on-site or off-site location for data wiping based on your convenience. They’ll offer you a certificate of permanent deletion after they’re done. This is the best method for how to wipe data from laptops in the safest and secure method.

#2. Overwriting on the Data

Overwrite features in Windows and Mac OS X applications can help you safely overwriter data. The disadvantage is that it can leave ‘ghost’ traces that can be recovered by other programs or specialists. But for the legit purpose, we won’t recommend you this method. It leaves traces that make it vulnerable to the recovery of wiped data.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to data security and privacy, you can never be too careful. Don’t forget to wipe your data clean before getting rid of your devices, whether you’re getting rid of them because you acquired new items or selling them. In this post, we resolved user queries by providing how to wipe data from laptop.

Those who have had their PCs or laptops repaired should always request their hard drives returned from the store. It’s still yours even if you feel there’s nothing on there that can be deemed sensitive information. Be always careful with your sensitive and confidential information.