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