Before Discarding Your PC
Companies typically shred documents before
disposing of them but too often do not take proper measures when disposing of old PCs. Not
only are there privacy and data security issues to consider, it may also be necessary to
delete certain applications to avoid violating the license agreements.
When your company upgrades its computers, you may
decide to sell, donate or recycle the old ones. But before handing over a PC to anyone
else, you need to make sure all data is permanently deleted from the old computer. It is a
well-known fact that cyber-criminals routinely target sold, donated and discarded
computers because of the amount of information that can be easily retrieved.
Deleting is Easier Said than Done
Some users believe that when they go through their
hard drive to delete files and then empty the recycle bin, the data is gone. However, this
process simply makes the file unreadable to the operating system at that time. With a bit
of work, and not much time, the files can be recovered and read. In addition, Windows
often stores information such as passwords, credit card numbers and previously deleted
files and e-mail without your even knowing it.
So what can you do to ensure the data cannot be
retrieved? As a first step, the owner/manager should establish guidelines for preparing
computers for disposal and know exactly what will happen to these old PCs.
Wiping the Hard Drive
Every time a PC is disposed of, the hard drive
should be "wiped" to ensure that no data is accessible to any future owner of
either the PC or the hard drive. As data can be recovered from broken disk drives, the
only real method of permanently removing data is using a special software program designed
for this purpose.
There are two types of programs that can be used
to wipe a hard drive - those that "scrub" files and folders and those that
"wipe" the entire hard drive.
Software programs that "scrub" the hard
drive can remove all data without disturbing the Windows operating system. The software
also "bleaches" hard drives by overwriting the data on the drive with randomly
selected characters to ensure that it cannot be recovered.
Other programs will delete everything on the disk
by reformatting the hard drive. Unlike the scrub software, these types of programs do not
allow you to pick and choose the files, applications and programs that are to be removed.
Before activating the program, be sure that the hard drive contents are fully replicated
because once it's gone… it's gone forever. For the PC to be usable again, the new
owner will need to reinstall Windows, the drivers and the application software.
Donating or Recycling PCs
An outdated computer may be an upgrade for someone
else. Contact local schools, churches and charities to find out if they could use the
computers that you are going to discard. As many will not have the resources to replace
deleted operating systems if the hard drive has been completely wiped, consider
reinstalling the operating system or including the original copy with the PC. Some
organizations may be able to use old computers to refurbish nonworking ones.
If the computers are obsolete, discard them
responsibly. Computers contain hazardous materials that are detrimental to the
environment. Many computer manufacturers and other companies have established programs for
recycling computer hardware. Some retailers are also offering incentives such as discounts
on new purchases for customers who recycle.
Take Precautions
Failure to destroy data is an invitation for
unscrupulous individuals to obtain critical corporate information that could damage your
business or be used for identity theft. Before selling, donating or recycling old
computers, take extra precautions to make sure the hard drives are truly erased.
Also keep in mind that many electronic devices
such as cell phones and PDAs also carry an immense amount of data. Similar to PCs, you
need to take steps to ensure all data is erased before you donate or recycle them. For
instructions on how to effectively "scrub" these devices, check the manual or
the manufacturer's website. |
