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Other => General Topics => Topic started by: prioryone on August 19, 2006, 12:31:13 PM

Title: Dangers of Second Hand PC Market
Post by: prioryone on August 19, 2006, 12:31:13 PM

Bank account details and personal information of potentially thousands of Britons are being sold in West Africa for less than £20 each - according to a new survey.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/real_story/4791167.stm

So be extra careful with that redundant hard drive!

Title: Re: Dangers of Second Hand PC Market
Post by: CharleyO on August 21, 2006, 06:43:10 AM

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It would be best to remove the hard drive, destroy it completely, and then get rid of the old computer in whatever manner is available. If selling it and the buyer does not want it without a hard drive, those are relatively cheap these days. So, install a new one and then sell the old computer for a price that includes the cost of the new hard drive.


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Title: Re: Dangers of Second Hand PC Market
Post by: mauserme on August 22, 2006, 08:19:34 PM

You can also use a program like Eraser

http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/download.php

to securely delete files and clear the blank spaces on your hard drive.

Let it run over night - it takes a long time even with just 3 randomizing passes.