What is Data Destruction &##x28;or Data Wiping&##x29;

What is Data Destruction (or Data Wiping)

Data destruction is the complete elimination of any data that exists in any form of electronics and it's important to know about when you dispose of any electronics which might contain personal information.

You might not be aware but when you delete a file on your computer, isn't erased entirely, and it's possible for someone with the right software and skills to read the data on a disk drive or other memory device. Data destruction makes reading the data impossible, which is essential for protecting personal and private information.

When you donate a computer or give an older smartphone or tablet as a gift, you could be passing along private and personal information.

I thought I deleted my files

When using any electronic device that stores information, files and data aren't always erased when you hit the “delete” key or send a file to the trash. If you thought you had deleted the data and someone else has access to the computer, for example, after you donated it or handed it down as a gift to someone, those files may, in fact, be available for that person to view and access. Here's why.

When you use a Windows or Mac computer and send a file to the trash, you are only removing the file from the desktop or from the application in which you use it. The file is still stored on your computer in the Trash or Deleted Files folder and can easily be restored to the location it was last used (for example, a folder location) by opening the trash, right clicking, and restoring the file. The file then appears as though it was never deleted back in the original location. There's a reason for this, and it makes sense if you ever wanted that file back.That's because people often need to restore recently deleted items, such as a photo, spreadsheet, or document.

To deleted a file it's necessary to click right on the trash bin on your desktop and empty the trash. The trash is a folder just like any other folder on your computer and stores everything you “deleted” until you empty the trash, but even then the file isn't completely gone, so let's see why.

When you empty the trash, your computer removes any visible way for you to see that file, and with the file gone, space it takes up on the disk drive or in memory is now free for other files to use. Until that file's space is used, the file can still be recovered and opened using software apps that allow users to see hidden files on your computer.

The average computer user usually doesn't know about applications or tools in the computer software which allow a more sophisticated computer user to access these hidden file locations on a computer. So how do you completely destroy a file?

How to Destroy Your Data

To completely destroy any file or information on a computer requires that you write new data over the old data, like using a marker to cover up any writing underneath it. Reformatting a disk drive doesn't write data over all of the old files and it's often possible to recover some data, even from a reformatted disk drive.

Destroying data is a little different whether you have a Windows or an Apple Mac computer or an Android or an iOS Mobile device.

Windows and Apple Mac users need to download an application that will overwrite the data. Keep in mind that data destruction requires writing data over a file several times and may take a little time.

Windows:

Two popular ones are Eraser and CC Cleaner, and both are free. Both Eraser and CC Cleaner allow you to select specific files that you want to erase completely. They work by writing gibberish data over the file location on your computer and repeat it several times, so there's no trace of the original information in a file on your computer.

Mac:

Mac users will need to download an app from the Mac App Store also. Before the latest version of the Mac OS, El Capitan, Apple had a built-in tool for securely erasing files in the Finder application. Apple removed this feature since most newer Mac's use a Solid State Drive and Apple's built-in tool wasn't able to perform a secure deletion. Apple eliminated the feature and allowed third-party apps to provide a solution.

Two popular and well-reviewed data destruction apps for Mac's are Permanent Eraser and File Shredder. Both will overwrite specific files or folders.

Smartphones and Tablets

Android users can now locate and remotely (over the web) wipe their devices using the Android Device Manager feature from Google. This free service shows the location of any of your Android devices and can perform a data wipe remotely (you can do this even if your Android device is in your hands) using the Android Device Manager website.
?It's also possible to do a factory reset and destroy any data on your Android device. Open Settings>Personal>Backup and reset>Factory data reset to access this option. When prompted, select "Erase everything" to erase all information from your smartphone or tablet.

iPhone users can use the Locate my iPhone app in their iCloud.com account to remotely remove data from their iPhone or iPad. There's also an option in the Settings app, by going to Settings>General> Reset All Content And Settings all data stored on the iPhone or iPad is erased. This feature performs a factory reset, which will completely erase all data on your device.

Smartphones and Tablets will also delete the data stored in an app if you select that option when deleting the app from your device.

Regardless of the type electronic device you own, performing a factory reset will typically erase any personal data or information such as passwords and login information which you might have stored, in addition to any files and other data such as emails and texts.

What if I Want to Recycle or Donate my Computer or Smartphone?

The factory reset features on smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices like routers are the best method to use and make it possible to donate your device without passing along any private information. It's always a good idea to use a factory reset and allow a new user to set up the device as thought it is theirs rather than keep ing any of your accounts and apps.

The most often recommended way to donate a Windows computer is to remove the hard drive and take the hard disk to a licensed recycling facility that will destroy the drive (more on this below). If you want to erase everything before donating, you'll need to create a separate boot disk and use either Eraser or the DBAN application to destroy the data, but neither software application guarantees data destruction with the free version. Many tech journals and professionals don't recommend donating a Windows PC since personal data may be visible to a more sophisticated user.

Mac users have an option using the built-in Disk Utility, located in the Utilities folder under Applications. When erasing a hard drive on a Mac, the Disk Utility includes the option to select Security Options, which includes the option to overwrite the entire hard drive several times. Use this option if you want to sell or donate your Mac and then reinstall the operating system.

Recycling Services

One truly useful way to permanently delete your data is to have your electronics destroyed at a licensed recycling service. These services use several methods to destroy the data on any recycled electronics, so personal information is completely gone. Disk drives are demagnetized, and devices like flash drives are crushed. Recycling services reclaim usable materials from electronics, so there's an environmental benefit. In California and other states, computers, VCR's, call phones, telephones, radios, and other electronic devices are banned from standard trash disposal and need to be picked up or taken to a hazardous waste disposal facility. All Green has a locator service that will help you find a recycling center here.

To my way of thinking

We keep many personal and private pieces of information in our electronic devices. Protecting that information when we upgrade or replace our electronics requires we be aware of our options. Recycling to a licensed recycling service (usually by the state you live in) is the most practical way to destroy data. Second best are factory reset options on smartphone, tablets, and other electronic devices with a factory reset feature.

For computers, recycle it at a licensed facility, but if you do want to donate on a Mac, use the Disk Utility to overwrite the drive, remove the hard drive and take the drive in for recycling. For Windows users, it's best to remove the hard drive and replace it with a new one if you're not recycling the entire computer, then take the disk to a recycling facility to destroy it and the data on it.