We don’t wipe.
Ever.
We shred. Hard drives, solid state drives, CDs, flash drives, smart phones, tape drives, and any other data storage devices.
Why?
Because all of those devices contain sensitive data, proprietary information, customer and employee files. Wiping a hard drive can easily leave behind bits of information. It’s also subject to human error, and since most computer “recyclers” are actually only resellers, your devices may be resold with your hard drives – and some of your information – still intact.
Don’t take our word for it – the US agencies charged with handing some of the most sensitive data all recommend device destruction over wiping or overwriting media:
- The US Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency now states that “overwriting or wiping data is no longer acceptable for sanitization of magnetic media; only degaussing or physical destruction is acceptable.”
- The IRS states, “Destruction of media is the ultimate form of sanitization. After media are destroyed, they cannot be reused as originally intended. Physical destruction can be accomplished using a variety of methods, including disintegration, incineration, pulverizing, shredding and melting.”
- Regarding overwriting or wiping of data media, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) states, “Overwriting cannot be used for media that are damaged or not rewriteable, and may not address all areas of the device where sensitive data may be retained.”
- The US Army states, “…degaussing and physical destruction are often the most economical means of ensuring Army data is not remnant on media before disposing of it…”
Only a complete physical destruction of the media can ensure that no data will be recoverable. Back Thru The Future shreds every hard drive we receive. Which means, we don’t wipe. We shred.