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?

3 comments

3 Comments

skyler_anderson651mo ago

Found a whole family photo album on a drive from a refurbished laptop once.

perry.nancy1mo 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?

wesley833h ago

Depends on what you call "worst." Found a drive once that just had like 20 years of old inventory spreadsheets and a single angry email from a manager about the office coffee machine. Not exactly scandalous stuff.