Data recovery specialist Secure Data Recovery has recently conducted a project that aimed to recover data from a large number of hard drives purchased online. The company bought 100 hard drives at random and used reasonable means to recover data, excluding damaged or encrypted drives that would require more significant resources. Out of the 100 hard drives, Secure Data Recovery recovered data from 69 drives, with only one encrypted drive and 30 damaged ones. More than 5.7 million files were recovered, with one hard drive alone containing over 3.1 million files.
The study highlights the fact that most users don’t have thorough destruction or disposal plans for their hard drives when replacing them. Only a tiny fraction of users encrypt their host drive, while a worrying minority gets rid of hard drives laden with files. The findings suggest that eBay’s warnings to prospective sellers to make sure their laptops and storage devices have been wiped clean have fallen on deaf ears.
To dispose of a hard drive safely and securely, Secure Data Recovery advises backing up important files before selecting the preferred destruction method based on one’s needs. Erasure software is one option, while other methods such as degaussing, media shredding, disintegrating, or using a drill to puncture the drive’s platters can also be employed. Methods that physically destroy the hard drive are generally more secure, and consulting a professional service is recommended for safe hard drive destruction and disposal.
