Anyone with recovery software and bad intentions could access this information, putting your privacy and the security of your personal information at risk. If you don’t? Your files are there for the tech savvy to find. Your personal information is stored on a computer’s hard drive unless you take the steps to wipe the hard drive clean. Why? The delete button doesn’t actually delete your information permanently. Your medical records, browser history, login info for your bank account, and past emails - your computer’s hard derive can hold traces of them all.Īnd it’s not enough to simply delete your old files. You may think that’s not a lot of stuff, but your old computers and laptops probably hold plenty of information, much of which you don’t want anyone to see. That means clearing out all the personal and financial information that your computer has collected.

But there’s something you must do first - wipe your computer hard drive.

You’re ready to donate or recycle your old computer gear.

How to erase laptop