| There are two ways to ensure that your | | | | It's a type of copyleft licence. It |
| data is completely wiped off your hard | | | | grants the recipients of a computer |
| disk. You can use either digital data | | | | program, such as Eraser, the rights to |
| shredding software or hardware. | | | | free software by definition. Linux |
| Currently hardware is the more popular | | | | Kernel uses this type of license for all |
| choice, as there are more benefits to | | | | their free software. Copyleft is a |
| it. | | | | reciprocity system where any work |
| There are various reasons why a person | | | | derived from it must also be created as |
| would want to clean out his or her hard | | | | free and open source software. In this |
| disk. The hard disk might have personal | | | | way it grants rights to other people |
| information on it that he or she | | | | instead of imposing copyright |
| wouldn't want others to have access to, | | | | restrictions. |
| such as credit card details and | | | | The disadvantages of using software to |
| passwords. Companies might want to | | | | shred your data on a hard disk are that |
| protect or dispose of confidential | | | | you need a PC. The software needs a |
| information. | | | | compatible operating system to enable it |
| When you delete information or files on | | | | to run. If the computer's operating |
| your computer the standard way, it's | | | | system isn't compatible, the correct |
| still possible for data recovery | | | | programme will have to be bought and |
| specialists to find it. Just because you | | | | installed. With an external shredder the |
| can't see the file doesn't mean it's not | | | | process is simpler. |
| there. If you overwrite a file, the | | | | WiebeTech have launched an external |
| chances of data recovery specialists | | | | drive, eRazor, which shreds data |
| being able to recover it are smaller, | | | | directly from the hard drive. It works |
| but there is still that possibility. | | | | independently from a PC as users can |
| Digital data shredders are the | | | | just slot their hard drive into the |
| equivalent of modern paper shredders. | | | | device. It works for all types of |
| Computer files are becoming the accepted | | | | operating systems. It is also faster |
| format for storing information, instead | | | | than software shredding, working at 35MB |
| of printing everything and filing it. | | | | per second. At this speed 250GB of data |
| Users and companies are storing their | | | | could easily be erased in just 2 hours. |
| data on external hard drives and | | | | The eRazor is targeted at larger |
| servers. The advantages of this are that | | | | companies who wish to get rid of data on |
| finding a file or document digitally is | | | | a frequent basis. For everyday users |
| easier than having to go through paper | | | | wanting to resell their hard drives or |
| work. It also saves physical space, as | | | | delete some personal information, |
| there are no filing cabinets. | | | | software shredding might be the better |
| Heidi Computers specialises in software | | | | option. |
| designed specifically for data | | | | Digital data is becoming the new trend |
| shredding. You can download their | | | | in storing information. Companies are |
| shredding software, Eraser, for free | | | | beginning to use e-mails as confirmation |
| from their website. The software is | | | | for products and almost all paperwork is |
| compatible with Windows 95, 98, ME NT | | | | done and stored on the computer. If you |
| 2000, XP, Windows 2003 Server and DOS. | | | | or your company are going to be storing |
| They have released the software under a | | | | personal, confidential information then |
| GNU General Public Licence. | | | | you need to consider investing in a data |
| A GNU General Public License is a free | | | | shredder as standard office equipment. |
| software licence for the GNU project. | | | | |