Did you know… Your data may still be accessible even after deleting and formatting the drive/storage device. Deleting the files on your hard drive isn’t as simple as you’d think.
Don’t throw away your old computer or hard drive without properly deleting the data!!
It amazes me when I find desktop computers or laptops in the trash/dumpster with hard drives still intact. I’ve recovered “deleted” files from these computers and found a plethora of confidential documents and information from the previous owner. I’m talking about full names, birthdays, social security numbers, medical records and financial documents and statements. If the data were to fall in the wrong hands, the identity of the previous owner can be stolen. Let’s not do that.
I can properly erase your hard drive in accordance with the DoD 5220.22-M standard. Your data will be completely erased and never recoverable again. This is especially important when personal and confidential files are stored on a computer’s hard drive and you are looking to sell or get rid of.
The DoD 5220.22-M standard is a process where the hard drive goes through a 3-pass method for sanitizing the data:
| Sequence | The Process |
|---|---|
| First Pass | Overwrites all addressable locations with binary zeroes. |
| Second Pass | Overwrites all addressable locations with binary ones. |
| Third Pass | Overwrites all addressable locations with a random bit pattern. |
After the drive is done with the data sanitation, I will test and attempt to recover files to ensure that the hard drive is completely wiped.