How to Securely Wipe Your Old Devices? Safe Your Data

Overview: Nowadays, the time has changed. People upgrade their devices such as laptop, computers frequently and are found common across the world. But, have you ever thought about what happens to your old devices which we usually left behind. There is a perception in people that they think by doing normal deletion to your old devices will be enough. As it can expose your personal information to a potential risk, if you have done improper disposal of your old devices. Let me explain to you the importance of not taking proper data erasure steps with an instance.

For Example:

Imagine a millionaire who sold his old gadget thinking it was useless and wanted to purchase a new one. So, he has given it to his worker who used to take care of his bungalow. After some point, he thought that this laptop was of no use to him. As he didn’t know much about the gadget and decided to give it to the buyer. After that, buyers used recovery tools to retrieve sensitive data from the laptop including financial details and personal emails which led to identity theft and had to face financial loss.

So, this shows why it is essential to securely erase data before getting rid of any device. There are so many unused devices lying around, but it’s important to know how to permanently delete files to protect your private information.

In this informative blog we are going to tell you some shocking statistics about data disposal habits. Providing simple steps for erasing data from various storage devices and discussing why secure deletion is essential in the time in which we are living. Also, showing you a comprehensive solution on how to securely wipe your old devices.

Why Does Data Erasure Matters?

The present time in which we are living where personal information becomes a valuable asset. If you are leaving your data unprotected, then it can put your data at risk. Either it’s your bank details, private photos, or sensitive emails, having improper disposal of old devices can lead to:

• Identity theft
• Financial fraud
• Privacy violations

You need to have secure data erasure which is crucial for managing and to effectively delete digital footprint.

Shocking Statistics on Data Erasure Awareness

Recent research (Conducted by ICO) reveals some shocking trends. Find them in below part:

• 29% of UK adults don’t know how to erase personal information from old devices.
• 27% plan to buy new gadgets this Christmas which leads to more tech being discarded improperly.
• The average Brit has three unused devices at home.
• 75% have kept at least one old gadget, with 20% worried about data security.

Although 71% recognize the importance of data erasure, 24% find it too complicated.

Younger adults are less concerns:

• 14% of 18-34-year-olds wouldn’t wipe their devices, compared to 4% of those over 55 years.
• 21% of young adults don’t consider data wiping as important for their data.
• 23% aren’t concerned about their information being misused.

How to Erase Data on Different Storage Devices – Normal Deletion

In this section, we are going to share quick steps to securely wipe your old devices. Follow these steps in the following section.

1. Smartphones and Tablets

• iOS Devices:
  

1. First, back up your data with iCloud or iTunes.
2. Then, go to >>>Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings <<<.
3. Now, enter your Apple ID password to confirm.

• Android Devices:
  

1. Now you have to back up your data to Google Drive or external storage.
2. Next, go to >>>Settings > System > Reset > Factory Reset <<<.
3. At last, follow the instructions present on the screen to simply erase the data.

2. Laptops and Desktops

• Windows PCs:
  

1. Take backup of your files to an external drive or cloud.
2. Go to >>>Settings > Update & Security > Recovery <<<.
3. Select Reset this PC and choose Remove Everything.

• Mac Computers:
  

1. Always take backup of data using Time Machine.
2. Reboot your Mac and hold Command + R for Recovery Mode.
3. Once there, use the Disk Utility function provided in your system to completely wipe the drive and get a fresh copy of macOS.

3. External Hard Drives and USB Drives

• For Windows:
  

1. Initially, connecting the drive with the PC should be done.
2. Subsequently, you would need to right-click the drive in File Explorer and select Format.
3. Choose a file system and click on Start.

• For Mac:
  

1. Starting with, connect your drive to your Mac.
2. Open Disk Utility from the Applications folder present in it.
3. Here, select the drive and click on Erase.
4. Now, choose the desired format.

4. SD Cards and Other Flash Storage

1. Firstly, insert the card into your device or a card reader.
2. Next, choose the format option FAT32 or exFAT, if your SD card size is over 32 GB.
3. Ensure to take backup of your important data on the card, as formatting will erase all files.
4. It may take a few seconds to several minutes depending on the card size.
5. Once done, you will get a notification that the card is ready for use.

Concluding Words

In this informative blog, we have shown the importance of data erasure and how to securely wipe your old devices. Simply deleting data is insufficient to fully protect your sensitive information. Unfortunately, many people remain unaware of the risks associated with improper data disposal as shown in shocking statistics. In our present time, it’s essential to prioritize data erasure when discarding or recycling old devices.

By using an automated tool shown above, you can ensure that your data is completely wiped and leaves no trace behind. Also, if you securely erase data from laptops, and external storage devices regularly, then it will make it a good habit and a responsible step toward protecting your precious data.