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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Hard drive destruction 'crucial' | Hard drive destruction 'crucial' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The only way to stop fraudsters stealing information from old computer hard drives is by destroying them completely, a study has found. | The only way to stop fraudsters stealing information from old computer hard drives is by destroying them completely, a study has found. |
| Which? Computing magazine recovered 22,000 "deleted" files from eight computers purchased on eBay. | Which? Computing magazine recovered 22,000 "deleted" files from eight computers purchased on eBay. |
| Criminals source old computers from internet auction sites or in rubbish tips, to find users' valuable details. | Criminals source old computers from internet auction sites or in rubbish tips, to find users' valuable details. |
| Freely available software can be used to recover files that users think they have permanently deleted. | Freely available software can be used to recover files that users think they have permanently deleted. |
| A number of software solutions exist to definitively erase files and information, and a sufficiently strong magnet could do the job. | A number of software solutions exist to definitively erase files and information, and a sufficiently strong magnet could do the job. |
| But the most straightforward solution, according to Which?, is complete destruction - and it recommends using a hammer. | But the most straightforward solution, according to Which?, is complete destruction - and it recommends using a hammer. |
| A number of recent cases have shown the dangers in disposing of second-hand equipment, from which details as well as other personal files can be retrieved. | A number of recent cases have shown the dangers in disposing of second-hand equipment, from which details as well as other personal files can be retrieved. |
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| A guide to destroying your hard drive | |
| "PCs contain more valuable personal information than ever as people increasingly shop online, use social networking sites and take digital photos," said Sarah Kidner, editor of Which? Computing. | "PCs contain more valuable personal information than ever as people increasingly shop online, use social networking sites and take digital photos," said Sarah Kidner, editor of Which? Computing. |
| "Such information could bring identity thieves a hefty payday." | "Such information could bring identity thieves a hefty payday." |
| "It sounds extreme, but the only way to be 100% safe is to smash your hard drive into smithereens." | "It sounds extreme, but the only way to be 100% safe is to smash your hard drive into smithereens." |
| Because those smithereens contain environmentally harmful materials, they should be recycled - for instance at the vendor from whom a new hard drive is purchased. | Because those smithereens contain environmentally harmful materials, they should be recycled - for instance at the vendor from whom a new hard drive is purchased. |