Question by Trent W: WHen you recycle a lab top can they look at your activities?
I am interested in recycling my lab top, but I am concerned about my privacy. I want to know if the people shall look at your past activities on your lab top when you recycles. And what proceeds take place when you recycle your lab top.
Best answer:
Answer by pullmyefinger
lol, WTF is a lab top?? Take the hard drive out, put on some gloves and introduce it to a Bench Grinder for about 10 minutes.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
yes if they are skilled enough they can find ANYTHING even from if you got the computer 10years ago
Most e-waste recycling facilities wipe the memory with magnets. But until then anyone can look at your data. If you have sensitive data it is best to remove it yourself before you donate.
I thought you could just reformat the computer and it would get rid of everything.
Yes even if you use a program such as partition magic or the like, the existing information CAN be recovered completely. The only safe and secure way to remove the information is to wipe the hardrive then completely reformat it. When that is done use a wiping program to write a series of “1”‘s on the empty space on the newly formated drive. This will virtually eliminate any chance of the existing information to be rbuilt. Though the information can still be recovered by IT pro’s in law enforcement. The only TRUE way to wipe a hard drive is to remove it and physically destroy the disk.
Yes they can, if they can be bothered. The only way you can be completely sure is if you remove the hard disk and physically destroy it! – This is probably only for the really paranoid.
You can download diskwiper software (I have used Paragon Diskwiper from a free Magazine cover disk before now). That will stop the vast majority of people from getting any information from the disk but still allow it to be recycled. Even reinstalling the operating system – pretty easy if you have the original disks, after performing a FULL format of the hard disk first will stop almost as many. They would have to be pretty keen on getting your information to do this.