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Showerthought: I just found out how many old hard drives are still out there with data on them
I was reading a report from a data recovery firm, and they said over 60% of the drives they get from businesses still have readable customer info on them, even after a basic format. That's from a sample of like 500 drives they checked last year. It blew my mind because we all know a quick format doesn't wipe anything, but I didn't think the number was that high. Makes me double-check my own wipe process on every single drive that comes in the shop now. What's your go-to method to make sure a drive is actually clean before you recycle it?
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skyler_anderson651d ago
Found a whole family photo album on a drive from a refurbished laptop once.
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perry.nancy1d ago
That 60% number is wild but honestly not that shocking. I always wonder what happens to those old office computers when a company shuts down or upgrades. Like, do they just get tossed in a dumpster with everyone's payroll files still on them? What's the worst kind of data you've actually seen left behind on a drive you were supposed to wipe?
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