File Eraser

Why You Need a File Wipe Utility for a Safe Disposal of Sensitive Business Information

Written By Oliver Powell
Approved By Rohit Arora
Updated on 28 Feb, 2024
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Summary: Are you thinking of disposing of your sensitive information? Read this guide and learn all the reasons why you must use a file wiping utility or software for secure business data disposal. We've mentioned all the myths and facts related to data deletion. Additionally, we've also discussed a powerful data erasure tool, BitRaser File Eraser, which can erase the data beyond the scope of recovery.

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We keep on adding to our collection of cell phones, smartphones, or even desktops and laptops. This happens probably because our data still lies intact on the hard drives of these wasted items and we do not want to risk our identity by improperly dumping these devices. Things (such as social security number, home address, credit card number) can be easily revealed, if someone gets hold of these used devices. In order to keep from potential incidents of identity thefts, you need to perform a safe disposal of information.

“80% of analyzed breaches had a financial motive.” (Source: Bitsight)

These are some key facts you must consider before donating or handing over the device to someone:

Myth about Deleting Files:

For a Windows user, a secure file erase means deleting that file from the ‘Recycle Bin’ folder. However, this operation only deletes a reference to the file. The contents of the file remain intact on your hard drive. When you create new files, the operating system overwrites this space. However, it is possible to read the file contents before overwriting of the disk space.

Shredding the Data:

This means erasing all the personal or mission-critical information off your hard drive. This process is also known as data wiping. A wiping operation overwrites your data multiple times with a random sequence of 0’s and 1’s to render it completely unrecoverable. Some of the smartphones (such as Blackberry) do include a feature that allows for wiping data. This is certainly the best-known technique to ensure a safe disposal.

In this digital age, everyone is concerned for their personal information and with so much overdependency on storage media, we are already living in the fear of losing our personal information to malicious indented personnel. Thanks for such file wiping technology, we can not only reduce e-waste but also save us from data breach. For Windows users, numerous file shredder tool are available which can wipe all their sensitive information for forever using dod wipe and NATO standards.

How to wipe a computer?

There is advanced file eraser software like Stellar file Eraser (Windows) and File Wipe (Mac) that do a better job of destroying sensitive data on your hard drive. This competent utility performs multiple-pass wipes to securely erase all the information beyond the scope of recovery by any commercial utility. Using this tool, you can create wipe lists to erase a list of selected files and folders at once.

Software working Steps

Install and Launch the software
The main software interface screen list all your connected drives
Select the file from the required drive to erase clicking an Erase Now option

Erase Traces

Pro Tip: Always backup your data before using such file wipe tools. As Once it was gone, it was gone for forever.

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About The Author

Oliver Powell

Oliver Powell is a Data Recovery Expert at Stellar®. He is a passionate technology blogger & content creator, He explores new applications and has deep understanding of data recovery. He has experience in Windows & Mac data recovery domain.

30 comments

Samuel Scarlett says:

April 19, 2017 at 8:32 am

It is very important for me to safely wipe all documents from time to time. Associated with the financial institute since last 5 years, we have huge heap of electronic data devices. Most of the data is old and never required again. The cost of new devices was always a burden on us. So we are always looking for any data erasing method which destroy our data and saves our money on devices. Use of Bitraser software solves our both problems. Every quarter we wipe huge numbers of hard drives with the help of these software.

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Bryan Cooper says:

March 28, 2017 at 4:56 am

For me, saving my data from bad eyes is my job as well as responsibility. To accomplish this task, we always use stellar disk erasing software, which gives us satisfaction about the forever deletion of data, out of the scope of any data recovery company/software.

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Ava Walker says:

March 21, 2017 at 3:45 am

Yes, my best friend was a victim of data breach in past. It was his pure negligence due to selling of his old PC machine to the local dealer without data wiping. His business suffer a lot due to this. Many sensitive business information was misuse by competitors. After getting about to know what happened with him, I always erasure all my sensitive data from time to time.

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Lance Baker says:

March 8, 2017 at 6:24 am

As per my understanding, it is everyone responsibility to safely erasing of their personal or official data. Most of the big companies are bound by various international laws and policies to delete the data permanently. They are even started cleaning their hard drive with the software-based approach and reusing disk. The individual also needs to respect his/her personal data and always wiped their drive before selling to a local dealer.

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Tom Novell says:

February 23, 2017 at 7:11 am

Being a responsible employee of my organization, I always try to keep all my business information as secure as I can. After getting to know about many data breaches cases, we always erased our hard drive after handed over to any person. Using Stellar File eraser software, was a totally an amazing experience.

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Nancy Paulmer says:

February 14, 2017 at 10:17 am

The sensitive data in our hard drive is our liability as well assets. So we should protect it out of the reach of bad eyes. Being associated with an orphan children NGO, I always donate my old PC machines to them. With the help of data erasing software, I completely erased all my drive data and then donate my PC.

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Jack Dosnier says:

January 27, 2017 at 9:28 am

During previous summers, I strongly need a software to wipe my external 1 TB hard drive. Being a non-technical guy don’t know much about this software. So on the recommendation of my uncle, I try BitRaser tool to permanently delete my data. Amazingly all of the data is erased with no chance of any data recovery. Your software really saves me from identity theft.

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Gray Mortan says:

January 23, 2017 at 9:40 am

In this digital age, with most of the things are getting digitalized, their chances of theft are always increased. Many online criminals are always looking to steal our secret information and may misuse them for their personal profit. So to save from any such situation, I always use data erasing software such as BitRaser, which securely wipe my data.

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Tom Moore says:

December 12, 2016 at 10:24 am

It is very important to better take care of your data by yourself; otherwise, someone else may misuse it and you may suffer a huge loss. If the desktop or a hard drive is old, and you are thinking to sell it off, always deletes your data with a File eraser software so as to prevent yourself from the victim of identity theft.

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Michael Jayden says:

November 29, 2016 at 6:22 am

Thanks Oliver for awakening all folks about how sensitive are their hard drive or storage device data. I always completely destroy my data with the help of third party data erasing software before handed over to a scrap dealer or selling it to anyone. Who knows when your business competitor recovered all important documents from your hard drive, which can lead to catastrophic outcomes to you.

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Why You Need a File Wipe Utility for a Safe Disposal of Sensitive Business Information

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