gio’s WeBlog

If you’ve recently purchased a new updated computer, you may want be considering donating or selling your old one. Even an older computer can make a good first computer for someone that doesn’t have one. But, it could cost you thousands of pounds when your computer ends up in the hands of another user!

There are steps that you will need to take to ensure your private information is kept private! Every year identity thieves are finding ways to get your valuable personal and financial information and this can end in devastating effects!

Simply deleting the files or even re-formatting the hard drive doesn’t erase all of the information that’s been stored there. These processes only remove the information that is used by the hard drive to find data!

There are many recovery programs available that can even retrieve data from a hard drive that is no longer usable! And, many free programs that can un-delete files, even if they’ve been emptied from the recycle bin!

While these programs can be life savers if your hard drive has crashed or you’ve mistakenly deleted the wrong file, they can also reveal pin numbers, account numbers and passwords.

Even if you don’t complete banking or business transactions on your computer, there’s still more than likely lots of personal information that you wouldn’t want to fall into the wrong hands!

The safest way to remove data is by using a wiping or erasing utility on your hard drive. There are many free programs available online that you can download and use to completely erase any personal data from your hard drive. These programs will allow you to choose which files to erase so that you can leave the actual operating system intact.

If you use Outlook Express you should also remember to delete any emails or email addresses that you may have. Emails are often personal and they may contain information that you’d like to keep personal.

While online email services don’t store anything on your hard drive, everything you do in Outlook is stored in your system! Those emails that you’ve received from your online banking service or credit cards could be used against you!

Something that people often forget to remove are photographs. Even if they’re pictures of a birthday party or Christmas, they’re still personal pictures that you may not want to share with a total stranger!

If you make your living writing or designing or inventing new products, then you’ve probably got a lot of files that pertains to your work. You will definitely want to make sure these are completely wiped away! All of your hard work would go down the drain if your great idea ended up patented under someone else’s name!

It may sound like a lot of extra work to prepare your computer for sale or to donation, but it can be well worth it in the end. You will be protecting the security of both you and your family.

Most people would probably find it easier to just toss that old computer in the trash. But, computers contain many toxic components such as mercury and a landfill isn’t the best place for them. If you don’t have the time to make sure all of your data is wiped away, or if your computer doesn’t work any longer, please consider recycling!

JBO Solutions supplies the UK with Digital Photo Frames, Computer Components and accessories such as Computer Monitors.