Secure Erasure

Contrary to popular belief none of the following actions removes a file from storage media. Instead, these actions simply remove the file from an index:

• delete
• move
• (re)-format

Software is available that can retrieve files that have simply been removed from an index. In order to prevent recovery of files from media being disposed of it is necessary to either:

• physically destroy the media (can be simplest for removable media such as floppies, CD/DVD
• run a "secure erase" program over HDD/SSD

Secure Erase

Risk of Inadvertent Erasure