Ask a Geek: How Can I Permanently Delete My Computer Files?

Selling, donating, or recycling your old computer? Think twice before you do! Simply resetting your computer to factory settings or formatting the hard drive isn't enough to completely erase your personal data. To truly protect your privacy, you need to use specialized software.

For Windows users, the free command-line utility SDelete is highly recommended. This tool overwrites the data on your hard drive, ensuring it's unrecoverable. SDelete can be run from a bootable disk or from another computer using a device like a Universal Drive Adapter. Linux users can achieve a similar result with the Shred command.

Mac users can leverage the built-in Disk Utility application. The Erase command offers secure erase options, ranging from a quick zero-overwrite to a more thorough seven-pass overwrite. The middle option provides a sufficient level of security for most home users. Remember to delete files first before erasing free space.

And finally, the ultimate, if slightly destructive, solution: Drill several quarter-inch holes through the hard drive platters. This guarantees complete data destruction.

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