In turn, this means files you delete using regular methods may remain accessible even if they don't appear in the File Explorer or otherwise. If you're getting rid of a PC and don't want people to access your sensitive data, you must securely wipe your drive. The process of 'wiping' refers to overwriting all sectors on your hard drive, replacing the content of the drive with zeroes or gibberish data. The process removes any data waiting for deletion, including that which third-party software could recover.

Can You Securely Wipe an SSD?īefore you start obliterating your hard drive, consider what type of drive you have. If you have a magnetic spinning disk hard drive, you can proceed to the secure wipe methods below. However, if you have an SSD, you need to read our short guide on how to erase an SSD securely. That is because of the difference in how a magnetic hard drive and a solid-state drive store data. If you use a solid-state drive, Windows will turn on the TRIM feature automatically. TRIM manages your SSD, making sure files delete properly, ensuring the flash memory wears in an efficient and consistent manner. Using a drive-wiping tool on an SSD isn't a great idea.

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