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HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER BEFORE RECYCLING HOW TO
HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER BEFORE RECYCLING FREE
HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER BEFORE RECYCLING MAC

You wouldn’t want to do this all the time. You'll usually need to use the end of a small paper clip to pop open the drawer.Bear in mind that solid-state storage only has a limited number of writes. This will reduce your drive’s lifespan, especially for cheap flash drives. Then go to "Settings," then "General," "Reset," and then choose to "Erase All Content and Settings." You can locate the SIM card either in a side panel or behind a removeable battery, depending on your model.

If you're not going to use that device anymore, remember to cancel any associated subscription.

(If you've already gotten rid of your paired device, you can still erase and turn off the Activation Lock from iCloud.

Apple: Unpair all devices and turn off the Activation Lock.

HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER BEFORE RECYCLING FREE

Then perform a factory reset by going to "System," then "Reset Options," and then select to "Erase All Data." Remove the SIM card and then overwrite any remaining data with an app available from Google Play such as ShredIt (seven-day free trial) or AVG Cleaner (free or subscription). Android: Make sure the data is encrypted by going to "Settings," then "Security," then "Security & Location," then "Encryption & Credentials," and, finally, "Encrypt Phone" if it's not already encrypted.If your device has a solid-state drive, deleting the files and performing a factory reset is sufficient - no need for safety goggles and a sledgehammer.įor smartphones and most tablets, follow these steps to delete your files and reset them: If you've been having trouble with your computer, you'll find this task is very rewarding. A few good whacks with a hammer or a couple of holes drilled through the disc will do the trick. If your old device contains extremely sensitive data, or you just want to be extra careful, you may want to remove the hard drive and physically destroy it. "These utility programs are designed to overwrite all the leftover data so that it's indecipherable and really can't be put back together to steal your identity," Siciliano explained. Both of these free apps will destroy whatever data is left on the drive.

HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER BEFORE RECYCLING HOW TO

PC: How To Refresh, Reset, or Restore Your PCĭoing a total reset on a PC still may not remove all your info and files afterward, it's a good idea to run a utility program, such as Disk Wipe or DBAN.

Chromebook: Reset Your Chromebook to Factory Settings.

HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER BEFORE RECYCLING MAC

Mac: What To Do Before You Sell, Give Away, or Trade In Your Mac.

"You want to bring that device back to factory settings, and that means reinstalling the operating system," said Robert Siciliano, a digital security expert with Protect Now, a cybersecurity consulting firm.įollow the manufacturers' instructions to remove data from desktops and laptops: The sensitive data includes text messages, photos, documents, email and passwords."īefore getting rid of an old tablet, laptop, desktop computer or smartphone, follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to properly "wipe" the memory.īefore starting, back up any files you want to keep to the cloud or another hard drive. The tools are available to almost anyone, including identity thieves and nosy second or third owners. "Not just police or forensic experts can access deleted data. The truth is that data can be retrieved in most cases," said Chester Wisniewski, a principal research scientist at Sophos, a global security company. "We are led to believe deleting makes things permanently go away. It's not enough to simply delete all your files that usually won't permanently destroy digital data. But before responsibly parting ways with your old tech, you'll need to make sure you've "wiped" the memory completely. Our digital devices are doomed to die or become obsolete.